TOMS Pledges to Donate $100,000 to Organizations That Combat Systemic Racism
TOMS is a buy-one-give-one company that plans to distribute $100,000 to Black Lives Matter and other organizations fighting for racial justice over the next three months.
The founder of TOMS, Blake Mycoskie, established the company in 2006, intending to improve people’s lives. Mycoskie’s model of giving back is something all businesses should aspire to have. Since 2006, the company has given more than 100 million shoes to people in need and directed one-third of their profits to support frontline healthcare workers fighting COVID-19 since the pandemic started.
A message from TOMS (1/2): pic.twitter.com/o5xYYfn2Lx
— TOMS (@TOMS) June 2, 2020
On June 1st, TOMS pledged to donate $100,000 to organizations working to eradicate police brutality. It also created an emotional support chat line where anyone can get automatically connected to one of the Crisis Text Line’s trained crisis counselors.
We are proud to highlight those organizations led by Black leaders in the movement who are working to end gun violence everyday. Follow them on social & visit their websites to learn more. #gunviolenceawarenessmonth #blacklivesmatter
All handles are for IG. pic.twitter.com/e8kydUN6FX
— TOMS (@TOMS) June 8, 2020
Before George Floyd’s death and the eruption of protests across the country, TOMS also showed its support for organizations like Think Outside Da Block and The Mix. Think Outside Da Block is a non-profit organization that teaches children from underrepresented backgrounds to build entrepreneurial ventures and unites communities by hosting evening bike rides. The Mix offers confidential mental health support for people who are under 25 years old.
Like Blake Mycoskie, we must support Black-owned businesses and organizations that contribute to making a positive change one day at a time.
I am an incoming junior at the UCLA College of Letters and Science. Through my love and appreciation for literature, social justice, feminism, public speaking, and writing, I am planning on pursuing a career in immigration and public interest law. I want to help those who are either the victims of the system or discrimination because I wholeheartedly believe that the purpose of my life is to help others and take cases that nobody else is willing to take.
