Wednesday, December 28, 2011
One of my friends whose value is beyond my ability to put words to his worth is Alex Hajime Birnbaum. Alex has thrown his lot in with Blake Mycoskie and a bunch of other good people who have joined in a one for one movement committed to the idea that the lives of children can be improved by individuals making wise everyday choices. Go to TOMS web site and learn about what they are doing and how they are doing it... and how responsible people everywhere can become involved (http://www.toms.com/). Basically, the program is this: The company matches every pair of its shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. One for One. The program has expanded the scope of its mission by adding a line of prescription eyewear with the same commitment to help one sight-impaired person in need for every pair of glasses the company sells. The needy recipients of shoes and glasses are all over the world.
I believe the company is on the right track. It is a model that demonstrates the good that can be done by a for-profit company that operates with a commitment to match it’s “getting” with “giving back.” Alex guides the international operation of the company. As he told me again today about the work of the company, I remembered the words attributed to King Solomon in Ecclesiastes 11:1: “Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after many days” (King James Bible). Another translation of the Hebrew text (New Living Translation): “Send your grain across the seas, and in time, profits will flow to you.”
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5 comments:
We all wear them because of that program!!! Good stuff!!! Bob
Yes... I have a pair of Tom's. $50, for fairly simple shoes. But VERY comfortable. Ginny
Good people doing good works are all around us. This is truly worthy news in a time
when politics, power and lack of persuasion abound. I had a friend when we lived in
Oregon who often quoted his own translation of Ecc 11:1...
"Throw your slices of bread on the water and
in no time God will send you ham sandwiches."
I think Bob nailed the spirit of that verse. My prayer is that your friend and his band of good folks experience "ham sandwiches" in short order. I love hearing stories like this. I'm inspired. I'll check out their web site and share it around here on the Eastern End of Long Island.
JIM
right back atcha....let's keep giving out the shoes so folks can walk the path safely......
2012 is going to be a grand year for peace....I can just feel it....see you at some of the resting places...along the trail
agape'
JB
Alex's project is extremely admirable--and wow, what is he eating???
Katie
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