TOMS

In 2006, American traveler Blake Mycoskie befriended children in a village in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, he created TOMS, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. One for One™. What started as a simple idea has become a powerful movement.

Five years later, TOMS realized the promise of One for One™could serve other basic needs and launched TOMS Eyewear. With every pair purchased, TOMS will help give sight to a person in need. One for One™. As more everyday choices have the power to impact the lives of those around the world, the TOMS movement will continue to grow and evolve.

TOMS is currently giving shoes through Giving Partners in over 40 countries around the world. To date, TOMS has given over 2,000,000 pairs of shoes to children in need.

TOMS is helping restore sight in 13 countries. TOMS Giving Partners are addressing the immense need for vision care by providing prescription glasses, performing sight-saving surgery, and giving medical treatment to those in need. As of December 2012, TOMS had helped restore sight to 100,000 people.

To learn more about TOMS’ giving, please read the TOMS Giving Report.

According to TOMS, the biggest advantages to having the company based in Southern California is the creative environment and the people. As relayed by a company spokesperson, “TOMS has been lucky to attract an incredible group of employees that truly make us the company we are. Los Angeles is a vibrant city, filled with creative people who want to do good in the world and we are fortunate to have people like this at TOMS. So much of what we do is inspired by our environment. When Blake Mycoskie founded TOMS, he lived in Venice and our first office was in Santa Monica. Since the beginning, our designers have always taken inspiration from the laid back beach culture. Our staff is energized by the beauty of this city.”

Selected Awards:
40 Under 40 List
Recognized Blake Mycoskie
Fortune Magazine, 2011

Award of Corporate Excellence
Awarded to Blake Mycoskie
United States State Department, 2009

People’s Design Award
Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum of the Smithsonian Institution, 2007