Flagler's Legacy teams with GOLDFINCH Boutique to co-host 'TOMS One Day Without Shoes'

ST. AUGUSTINE, FL (03/25/2011)(readMedia)-- Flagler's Legacy and GOLDFINCH Boutique will be co-hosting the event "TOMS One Day Without Shoes" on Friday, April 5, at 5 p.m. The event will begin at the Flagler College Gazebo and will continue at Goldfinch Boutique.

"TOMS One day Without Shoes" is an annual worldwide event where participants pledge to go one day without shoes to raise awareness of the impact a pair of shoes can have on a child's life.

TOMS Shoes started with an American traveler, Blake Mycoskie, when he befriended children in a village in Argentina and found they [children] had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, Mycoskie created TOMS Shoes, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a new pair of shoes for a child in need.

Samantha Palmer, director of retail operations and historical tours at Flagler's Legacy, said that she is a staunch supporter of TOMS Shoes and the company message.

"Participating in the walk is an awesome way to support a bigger cause," she said. "While working with GOLDFINCH Boutique, it allows us [Flagler's Legacy] to network with other downtown businesses. We hope to see a lot of walkers from the college and community."

Flagler's Legacy will be providing free t-shirts and other items from the store for a raffle, to be held at the event, and Palmer has been involved with organizing the students, faculty, staff and alumni of the college to participate in the demonstration.

In addition, Palmer will be bringing replications of different terrains from several countries - referred to as "mock-up terrains" - for people to walk over barefoot to see what it's like to walk the terrains without shoes.

Steve and Amy Fitt, owners of Goldfinch Boutique, said that they are hoping that the event will inspire the local community to reach out to children in need.

"Our [Fitts'] hope is that together, we can provide more shoes for the children who need them," they said. "We're co-hosting this barefoot walk because we want to inspire people in the community to think of ways they can reach out and help others in need. The idea is that people walking without shoes will spark curiosity, leading to conversation, which we believe leads to action and change."

Participants in the event will walk barefoot from the Flagler Gazebo to the Goldfinch Boutique. Once there, participants will enjoy free food and live music, while local community and Flagler student artists will style TOMS Shoes.

"This is a 'Style Your Sole' event where you can get your TOMS shoes painted," said [Amy] Fitt. "Also, the Flagler College Campus Crusade for Christ has donated money so that 10 people at the event can win a pair of TOMS shoes through the raffle."

Fitt said that participants are encouraged to bring signs, posters, banners and most of all, enthusiasm.

For more information about the event, please call Goldfinch Boutique at (904) 827-0749 or e-mail goldfinch.vip@gmail.com.

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Flagler College is an independent, four-year, comprehensive baccalaureate college located in St. Augustine, Fla. The college offers 25 majors, 29 minors and two pre-professional programs, the largest majors being business, education and communication. Small by intent, Flagler College has an enrollment of about 2,500 students, as well as a satellite campus at Tallahassee Community College in Tallahassee, Fla. U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review regularly feature Flagler as a college that offers quality education at a relatively low cost; tuition is $21,450, including room and board. A relatively young institution (founded in 1968), Flagler College is also noted for the historic beauty of its campus. The main building is Ponce de Leon Hall, built in 1887 as a luxury resort by Henry Flagler, who co-founded the Standard Oil Company with John D. Rockefeller. For more on Flagler College, visit www.flagler.edu.

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