Contact:  Sue Lee

     (303) 929-0556

sue@sock-it-to-em@com

Holiday Sock Donation Campaign Warms Cold Feet in Mile High City

“Sock-it-to-‘em” Heightens Sensitivity to Doubled Homeless Population in Denver

 Denver, CO — (December 11, 2012) — A citywide effort to encourage donations of socks for those without permanent shelter in Denver is launching on Wednesday, December 12, 2012, to help meet the needs of a homeless population in the Mile High City that is now twice what it was just a year ago.  The Sock-it-to-‘em Sock Campaign™ aims to cover the feet of as many of those in need as possible before the new year, getting the word out through the media and local organizations.

“We want to launch the effort in Denver, but intend to encourage other cities around the country to join in,” said Sue Lee, one of the two program coordinators.  “Denver is a good place to start because of the growing number of homeless since just last year that will have to endure bone-chilling temperatures during the holidays.  By encouraging residents to donate new and used socks to those in need, we hope to help everyone survive the cold.”

The campaign kicks off this week with a “No-Socks-To-Work-Day”, aimed at inspiring workers throughout the city to forego their socks, donate them, and sport bare ankles during their workday in a show of support for the campaign.  The sockless workday idea was the brainchild of Dean Rothbart, co-coordinator of the sock donation campaign, who is also behind the Small Business Drives Colorado™ campaign.

“It’s estimated that one out of every four homeless individuals in Denver is a child – that’s just heartbreaking,” said  Rotbart.  “If we can make sure their feet are warm for the holidays, we will be doing something to help.”

According to the latest rankings, Denver has the eighth highest homeless population of major metropolitan areas in the U.S., with more than 12 thousand residents lacking permanent shelter.  A survey on homelessness in the city conducted annually by the Metro Denver Homeless Initiative, released earlier this year, found that the number of homeless individuals sleeping without permanent shelter in the city more than doubled from May of 2011 to May of 2012.  Over 3,000 individuals became newly homeless during that same 12 month period.

“We know we can count on the good people of Denver to help us make a difference for their neighbors in need,” said Lee.  “Most everyone can spare a pair of socks.”

Donations of socks for the Sock-it-to-‘em Sock Campaign can be made at xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.

For more information on the campaign, contact xxxx at (xxx) xxx-xxxx.

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For More Information:

Sue Lee , Sock-it-to-‘em

P: 303.929.0556 | [email protected]

Steven Shapiro, Communications Strategy Group

P: 303.433.7020 | [email protected]

Inaugural “No Socks to Work Day” To Be Held on 12/12/12

Campaign to gather sock donations for Denver’s homeless being spearheaded by the Sock-it-to-‘em Sock Campaign

Dec. 3, 2012 – DENVER, COLORADO – A citywide effort to gather donations of socks for Denver’s homeless population is kicking off with the inaugural “No Socks to Work Day” on Dec. 12, 2012.  “No Socks to Work Day” asks workers to forego their socks for the day, donate a new pair of socks in their place, and sport bare ankles in the workplace in show of support for the campaign. The drive will be in full effect through Dec. 31, 2012.

The Sock-it-to-Em Socks Campaign™ was launched in 2011 by Sue Lee, CEO of EQ Media and creator of “I Believe in Me!” When the entrepreneur recognized how many Americans face the harsh winter cold and dampness with inadequate protection for their feet, she asked her friend Phillis Shimamoto to join her in 2012 to form Sock-it-to-Em and began soliciting fellow small business owners and others to pitch in.

This year, Lee and Shimamoto teamed with Small Business Drives America™, a nationwide program to highlight the contributions of small businesses to the nation’s economy, in launching the “No-Socks-To-Work™” Day drive. Thousands of businesses and other workplaces nationwide are expected to shed their socks and participate.

Denver’s homeless population is now twice what it was just a year ago.  The Sock-it-to-‘em Sock Campaign™ aims to cover the feet of as many of those in need as possible before the new year. No Socks to Work Day was the brainchild of Denver resident, Dean Rotbart, co-coordinator of the sock donation drive, and the force behind the Small Business Drives Colorado™ campaign.

“We want to launch the effort in Denver, but intend to encourage other cities around the country to join in,” said Sue Lee, Sock-it-to-‘em founder.  “Denver is a good place to start because of the growing homeless population who will have to endure bone-chilling temperatures during the holidays.  By encouraging the community to donate new and used socks to those in need, we hope to help everyone survive the cold.”

“It’s estimated that one out of every four homeless individuals in Denver is a child – that’s just heartbreaking,” said Dean Rotbart.  “If we can make sure their feet are warm for the holidays, we will be doing something to help.”

The grassroots campaign has attracted the attention and support of several Denver-metro area sponsors, including:

• Crocs: Crocs Inc. will serve as a national co-sponsor of No Socks To Work™ Day, providing new pairs of Crocs in support of the no-socks drive and its celebrity participants, as well as making a donation of new shoes to the homeless.
• HomeSmart Realty Group: Donation of 501 pair of socks
• Marco’s Pizza Colorado: Two-for-one discount on pizza slices for anyone who brings in a sock donation
• Communications Strategy Group: Coordination of all media relations and promotion of No Socks to Work Day

Sock donations can be dropped off at any of these locations:

• MIYO’s Café – 858 W. Happy Canyon Road, Castle Rock, CO 80108
• Leading Edge Physical Therapy – 7280 Lagae Rd., Unit F (Castle Pines Parkway & Lagae)
• First Plymouth Congregational Church – 3501 S. Colorado Blvd., Englewood, CO 80113
• St. Andrews United Methodist Church – 9203 S. University Blvd., Highlands Ranch, CO 80126
• 100% Chiropractic, Belmar – 455 S. Teller St., Lakewood, CO 80226
• Heart of Oneness Center – 720 14th St. Golden, CO 80401
• Rainbow Rewards – 999 18th St., Ste 2250, Denver, CO 80202
• Communications Strategy Group  – 3225 E. 2^nd Ave., Denver, CO 80206
• Any Denver or Colorado Springs Marco’s Pizza location
• The Fragrance Factory – 45 Via Brianza, Suite 100, Henderson, NV 89011

Sock donations can also be mailed to:

Sock-it-to-em Socks Campaign™

Attn: Dean Rotbart

7581 E. Academy Blvd.  #D455

Denver, CO 80230

Everyone who plans to participate on December 12^th can take the “No-Socks-To-Work™” pledge on Twitter @NoSocksToWork.  See www.Twitter.com/nosockstowork.  Please tweet the following:  “I’m going sockless to work on 12/12/12 to support No-Socks-To-Work™ Day. I’ll donate a pair of new socks to the homeless. #nosockstowork

Participants are also encouraged to connect with No Socks to Work on Facebook and post images of sockless employees: https://www.facebook.com/NoSocksToWorkDay

Additional information can be found at www.NoSocksToWork.org.  Businesses interested in becoming a sponsor or participating in “No-Socks-To-Work™” Day, may contact Rotbart at [email protected], or by phone at 303-296-1200.

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(DENVER) One day each winter, the nation’s workforce will forego wearing socks on the job and instead donate a new pair of men’s, women’s or children’s stockings to benefit those in need.

The 1^st Annual “No-Socks-To-Work™” Day will be held on December 12, 2012 as governors and mayors, postal carriers and bus drivers, accountants and lawyers, and especially small business owners pledge to spend the day sockless, while donating a pair of new socks to the nonprofit Sock-it-to-Em Socks Campaign™.

The Sock-it-to-Em Socks Campaign™ was launched in 2011 by two Colorado entrepreneurs who recognized how many Americans face the harsh winter cold and dampness with inadequate protection for their feet.  Friends Sue Lee and Phillis Shimamoto took it upon themselves to form Sock-it-to-Em and begin soliciting fellow small business owners and others to pitch in.

This year, Lee and Shimamoto teamed with Small Business Drives America™, a nationwide program to highlight the contributions of small businesses to the nation’s economy, in launching the “No-Socks-To-Work™” Day drive. Thousands of businesses and other workplaces nationwide are expected to shed their socks and participate.

“The act of going sockless to work – for just one day – is both symbolic and instructive,” says Lee, founder of the Sock-it-to-Em Socks Campaign™ and CEO of EQ Media, publisher of the “I Believe In Me”™ preschool development brands.  “Few of us really understand how brittle and uncomfortable life is when your feet are cold and poorly protected.”

The list of shipping and drop off locations for the “No-Socks-To-Work™” Day drive is growing daily and can be found at www.No-Socks.org.

Sock-it-to-Em hopes to collect at least 50,000 pair of new socks between December 12^th and Christmas Day.

“No-Socks-To-Work™” Day is the brainchild of Dean Rotbart, national chairman of the Small Business Drives America™ campaign and co-host of the popular Colorado radio newsmagazine, Business Unconventional, which is broadcast each Sunday on 710 KNUS AM.

Rotbart, along with Business Unconventional co-host David Biondo, each week interviews and profiles small business owners, inventors, entrepreneurs and self-employed professionals who create so many jobs and are the true engines of our economy.

“If you want to achieve great things in America, then look to our entrepreneurs for ways to accomplish them,” Rotbart says.  “Providing socks to those in need is a task perfectly suited for small business owners.

Other companies – big and small – interested in supporting “No-Socks-To-Work™” Day are encouraged to contact Rotbart or Biondo.  Each sponsor will be asked to pledge a minimum number of socks to the drive in keeping with their means.

Everyone who plans to participate on December 12^th can take the “No-Socks-To-Work™” pledge on Twitter @NoSocksToWork.  See www.Twitter.com/nosockstowork.  Please tweet the following:

“I’m going sockless to work on 12/12/12 to support No-Socks-To-Work™ Day. I’ll donate a pair of new socks to the homeless. #nosockstowork”

Lee, who will be attending CEO Space International Business Forum, the world’s leading trade show helping Entrepreneurs, CEOs, Inventors, Investors, and Visionaries
at Ravella in Henderson Nevada will get hundreds of business owners to go sockless and donate socks on 12-12-12.

In addition, “No-Socks-To-Work™” will post photos on its Pinterest page of businesses and individuals who wear their shoes – but not their socks – while on the job.  (Feel free to send along sockless photos prior to December 12^th.) The Pinterest page can be found at www.Pinterest.com/NoSocksToWork.  Send your jpeg photos to: [email protected].

“The holidays are a time when so many people hang socks by their fireplace to receive gifts,” observes Shimamoto, President of Sock Ambassadors for the Sock-it-to-em Sock Campaign™.  “Sock-it-to-em recognizes that for the less fortune, the socks are the gift,” she explains.

Adds Biondo, who in addition to co-hosting the Business Unconventional radio program is an authorized Bank on Yourself financial advisor:  “Spend a day walking in their shoes – without socks – and you’ll discover just how blessed we are to be making the donations, not needing them.”

[Further details about the Sock-it-to-em Sock Campaign™ and its year-round activities can be found at https://sock-it-to-em.com]

For information about Sock-it-to-em Sock Campaign™ contact Sue Lee ([email protected]) or Phillis Shimamoto ([email protected]).

Businesses that wish to sponsor or participate in “No-Socks-To-Work™” Day, may contact Rotbart and Biondo at [email protected], or by phone at 303-296-1200.