It's that time of year again...

One Day without Shoes is fast approaching! Mark it on your calendars! April 8, 2010 is the second annual ODWS.


TOMS is asking everyone to go barefoot for one day, one hour, one minute on this day to raise awareness of the large group of people on this planet (40% of the population) that go barefoot every day.

Be sure to check TOMS' ODWS website and on the TOMS at UGA blog for updates on the event.

I leave you with this: The facts.

Fact #1:

In some developing nations, children must walk for miles to food, clean water and to seek medical help.

Fact #2:

Cuts and sores on feet can lead to serious infection.

Fact #3:

Often, children cannot attend school barefoot.

Fact #4:

In Ethiopia, approximately one million people are suffering from Podoconiosis, a debilitating and disfiguring disease caused by walking barefoot in volcanic soil.

Fact #5:

Podoconiosis is 100% preventable by wearing shoes.

Dawgs for Haiti

On January 12, 2010, the worst natural disaster to affect the western hemisphere in decades struck some of our poorest and most vulnerable neighbors. A 7.0 magnitude earthquake rattled the small Caribbean nation of Haiti, just ten miles outside of the densely populated city of Port-au-Prince. More than 50,000 people may be dead and buried among the rubble.

Volunteer UGA and the University of Georgia are answering the call to action. Dawgs for Haiti is a bulldog nation-wide effort organizing to raise money to support the victims of this devastating earthquake.

$50,000 for 50,000. That is our pledge, and our proceeds will be devided evenly between the relief efforts of the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders. The bulldog nation has 34,000 students, 250,000 alumni, and countless more members around the world. Now is the time for us to come together in the spirit of Southern hospitality and give our support to the victims of this terrible disaster.

Please donate generously.