7/31/2019 10-05-12 IRD Partners with TOMS to Give New Shoes to Children in Armenia

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IRD Partners with TOMS to Give New Shoes to Children in

Armenia

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OCTOBER 5, 2012

CONTACT: MELISSA PRICE

571-366-1596

PRESS@IRD-DC.ORG

One woman said that she had

to borrow shoes from her

neighbors to take her children

to the doctor in the city, saidFor Armenia President G.

Gevorgyan. She kissed my

hand and thanked me. Her kiss

is for all those who do not

forsake people that struggle

and suffer in poverty."

ARLINGTON, VAInternational Relief and Development (IRD) andTOMShave

partnered to distribute tens of thousands of new shoes to children in need in Armenia. With

the help of local partner For Armenia, IRD is distributing TOMS Shoes to children across

the country in orphanages, schools, and remote villages. Many of these children are living

with disabilities and all are growing up in tremendous poverty.

As a TOMS Giving Partner, IRD has integrated shoe-giving into its ongoing programactivities. In Armenia, IRD has been working since 2001 with more than 300 local

organizations and communities on anEssential Pharmaceutical Commodities Distribution

project, funded by the U.S. Department of State.

IRDs long-term relationships in Armenia allow us greater access to those communities

most in need, said Logistics Officer Bernhard Gallent. The partnership with TOMS lets

IRD provide even more support to the individuals we serve, and the children who receive

new shoes are better prepared and better protected for a long, healthy future.

For Armenia President G. Gevorgyan expressed his gratitude for the gift: "I cannot describe

the extent of happiness people have when receiving this assistance. Mothers said that the

money they would spend on shoes can now be redirected toward other needs, like food or

medicine."

IRD became a TOMS Giving Partner in May and will continue working with the company

to distribute TOMS Shoes to children through our programs in Eastern Europe and Asia.

For more information on IRD, visitwww.ird.org orIRD in Armenia, and visit theIRD

Voices blogto read first-hand accounts from IRD staff in the field. You can also stay up-to-

date on IRDs latest news by following us onFacebook, Twitter (@ird_voices),Flickr, or

YouTube.

###

IRD is a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization responsible for implementing relief,

stabilization, and development programs worldwide. IRD's mission is to reduce the

suffering of the world's most vulnerable groups and provide the tools and resources needed

to increase their self-sufficiency. Specializing in meeting the needs of communities emergingfrom conflict or natural disaster, IRD partners with donors, local organizations, and many

others to deliver sustainable services in agriculture, governance, health, and infrastructure.

About 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. Last year, TOMS evolved from a shoe

company into the One for One company, and is now addressing an entirely new need in

addition to shoes through eyewearhelping give sight to people in need around the

world.

INTERNATIONAL RELIEF & DEVELOPMENT | 1621 NORTH KENT STREET, 4TH FLOOR | ARLINGTON, VA 22209

T 703.248.0161 | F703.248.0194 | WWW.IRD.ORG

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