Two Ten Footwear Foundation made public a $1.5 million gift from National Shoe Travelers (NST). The gift is the largest NST has ever made and was unanimously approved by the 13-member NST Board.

The gift reinforces Two Ten, a four-star Charity Navigator-rated national nonprofit, as the charitable organization of choice for the shoe industry.
The goal of the NST Endowment Fund is to provide a permanent legacy with Two Ten Footwear Foundation to be able to financially assist the shoe traveler in times of need. The spirit of community and service and supporting each other during times of need is deeply woven into the very fabric of both organizations. The NST Endowment Fund is tangible evidence of the common commitment of shoe reps helping shoe reps.
The partnership with NST demonstrates the unity between organizations in the U.S. footwear industry.

“Through this gift, NST leaves a permanent legacy and support system for sales representatives across the country. We are thrilled NST supports and endorses our mission. We look forward to growing our relationship with NST, and continuing to serve the needs of shoe reps across the country,” said Two Ten President Neal Newman.
“NST’s main objective for 2012 is to increase membership, take the organization to the next level while providing fraternal support of fellow sales reps on the road. Two Ten and NST working together on a national scale can help us do this,” said NST President Mark Pecoraro.

Two Ten Footwear Foundation is the footwear industry’s national charitable foundation – the only one of its kind in the United States, and 100 percent funded by the footwear community. Founded in 1939, Two Ten Footwear Foundation has helped thousands of shoepeople and their families with emergency financial assistance, crisis counseling, higher education scholarships, access to social services and professional networking opportunities that strengthen the footwear community in the USA. This year alone, Two Ten helped over 2,000 people and provided $1.4 million in emergency financial relief and $700,000 in scholarships. Two Ten Footwear Foundation hosts two fast-growing communities: Women In Footwear Industry (WIFI) and Young Professionals for 210 (YP210).

Founded in 2006, National Shoe Travelers, formerly known WSA (2006), is a membership organization whose goals are to represent and to significantly improve the abilities and well-being of traveling sales representatives who work within the footwear and related goods industry. NST’s primary activities include providing its members with information, life insurance benefits, education and networking opportunities with fellow members, vendors and other key players in the footwear industry.