DSW Inc. will donate $75,000 to the National Parkinson Foundation after more than 320,000 people voted in the retailer's Shoe Lovers Care Leave Your Mark campaign, which invited consumers to select from a list of eight nominated charities. While the National Parkinson Foundation received the most votes, DSW will also donated $5,000 to each of the seven runners-up.
All participating charities were nominated by DSW associates, including Katie Back, who nominated the National Parkinson Foundation (NPF).
“My mom was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson's last year and my family and I have watched the disease progress both mentally and physically,” Back said. “Her life changed drastically over the last year, so this donation really means a lot to my family.”
The NPF's mission is to improve the quality of care for people with Parkinson's disease through research, education, and outreach.
“It's because of people like Katie and companies like DSW that one person can truly be that candle that lights up the whole world,” said NPF President & CEO Joyce Oberdorf.
Leave Your Mark allows DSW to support the philanthropic passions of their associates. “This campaign allows us to give back to the community in a way that means something to the individuals who work here. Parkinson's disease affects many families and this contribution allows us to support Katie's family as well as extend the support provided by the National Parkinson Foundation,” said Jonica Armstrong, Manager of Community Relations at DSW.
For more information on National Parkinson's Foundation and Shoe Lovers Care visit shoeloverscare.com.
As of Dec. 30, 2014 DSW operated 431 branded footwear, handbag and accessories stores in 42 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. It also operates dsw.com and the interactive mobile app and site m.dsw.com. DSW also supplies footwear to 372 leased locations in the United States under the Affiliated Business Group.
