In the Spirit of Giving-TOMS Shoes

Is it just me or does it feel like community philanthropy is growing? Or maybe people are simply getting more creative, investing their talents in specific charitable causes. Everywhere I look someone is pledging to give a percentage of company sales to a charity, hosting charitable fundraisers and creating non-profit organizations. The Blogosphere is packed with charitable blogs and thoughts. And more than ever, the "beautiful people" (celebrities) are getting on-board. I think we are seeing a shift in global tolerance and empathy. At least I hope so. As my lovely cyber friend Karen Au states, "We've lit the candle in our own corners of the globe, and the light is spreading around the world!" click Read more below

TOMS Shoes donates a pair of shoes to a child in need with every shoe purchase. When the company's founder, Blake Mycoskie, noticed numerous children without shoes while he was vacationing in Argentina, he decided to get involved. Children without shoes are susceptible to dangerous health risks so TOMS shoes plans to give 1 million shoes by 2012. This reminds me of an experiment in empathy and giving I participated in last summer that I blogged about. Putting yourself in someone else's shoes... or in this case, barefeet. Click here to read about my experience with no shoes.