Shoes For Orphan Souls Celebrates 1 Millionth Pair of Shoes Donated; Malls Encourage Communities to Donate Shoes, Socks and Shoelaces During National Drive
SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 9, 2004-- While many children will go back to school in the latest fashion trends, some will face yet another year without the basic needs such as a new pair of shoes. The Macerich Company (NYSE:MAC) urges shoppers to remember those less-fortunate during the busy back-to-school shopping season as the company kicks-off the 2004 "Shoes for Orphan Souls" annual shoe drive, benefiting Buckner Orphan Care International. Donations of new shoes, socks and shoelaces are greatly needed to help children and teens, ages 0-18, in local communities and in orphanages around the globe. This year marks the 1 millionth pair of shoes distributed through the program.
The Macerich Company, owner and operator of more than 61 regional shopping centers across the U.S., is the national sponsor of Shoes for Orphan Souls and has played host to the shoe drive for six years. The Company is encouraging its shoppers to drop-off donations at one of 35 participating Macerich malls. At least 50 percent, or more, of all contributions will stay in the local markets, benefiting local charities. All additional donations will be shipped to Buckner Orphan Care's international distribution center in Dallas to assist children in more than 30 countries worldwide. Please visit www.ShoesForOrphanSouls.org for more information and to find drop-off locations.
"It's amazing how uplifting a pair of new shoes can be to a child," said Susan Valentine, SCMD, senior vice president of marketing for The Macerich Company. "No child should be without shoes and we encourage communities nationwide to rally together in support of this worthwhile cause."
The Macerich Company has collected thousands of pairs of shoes in participating malls since the program's inception in 1999 with more than 37,000 pairs donated in 2003 alone.
Added Shaun Hawkins, director of Shoes for Orphan Souls, "It's amazing to see the face of a child light up as they receive a new pair of shoes. What to many of us seems trivial, to these children means someone cares. Thanks to strong volunteers and partners like Macerich, we can continue to make a difference in children's lives."
Volunteers are being sought to help sort shoes at several mall locations and to travel internationally to deliver the shoes to orphans. Tentative trip dates for 2004 are: Bulgaria, Oct. 4-16; China, Oct. 19-30; Romania, Oct. 21-31; Latvia, Nov. 4-14; Russia, Oct. 11-21; Guatemala, Dec. 2-11; and Kenya, Dec. 1-12. All trips include coach airfare, hotels, means transportation, travel insurance, visas, and other necessities, as well as cultural events and sightseeing.
Shoes For Orphan Souls is part of Dallas-based Buckner Orphan Care International (BOCI). Buckner is one of the largest private social-care organizations in the nation, serving approximately 80,000 people each year. Founded in 1879, Buckner is a vastly diversified organization dedicated to the restoration, care and healing of children, families and senior adults. Buckner seeks to provide care without regard to race, religion, economic status or social circumstance. Additional information about the drive and volunteering locally or internationally is available at www.ShoesForOrphanSouls.org.
The Macerich Company is a fully integrated self-managed and self-administered real estate investment trust, which focuses on the acquisition, leasing, management, development and redevelopment of regional malls throughout the United States. The Company is the sole general partner and owns an 81% ownership interest in The Macerich Partnership, L.P. Macerich now owns interests in properties totaling approximately 61 million square feet consisting primarily of interests in 62 regional malls. Additional information about The Macerich Company can be obtained from the Company's website at www.macerich.com.
CONTACT:
Lovell Public Relations
Kim Craig/Tresa Hardt, 972-788-4511 or 214-235-5284
kcraig@lovellpr.com
SOURCE: The Macerich Company