TOMS launches its fourth One for One® product, the TOMS Bag Collection, to address maternal health, in Canadian market on March 6

With every bag purchased, TOMS will help provide a safe birth for a mother and baby in need 

Toronto, ON – TOMS, the company known for starting a global movement through its One for One® business model, has launched its fourth and newest product, the TOMS Bag Collection, addressing the issue of maternal health worldwide. With every TOMS bag purchased, TOMS will help provide a safe birth for a mother and baby in need. The announcement was made today by TOMS Founder Blake Mycoskie.

After years in the field, I recognized a need for advancements in maternal health,” said Mycoskie, “so we developed a program with our Giving Partners to identify two key ways TOMS can aid in safer birthing conditions. Being able to give in this way – one that helps save the lives of mothers and newborns – is incredibly special. The issue of maternal health is very close to my heart, as I just became a father this past December. I truly believe people around the world will be amazed at what these bags can do.”

The TOMS Bag Collection features three distinct bag lines including Artisan, Travel-inspired, and Campus and Tech, in canvas, leather and global prints ranging from $30-$328 CDN. TOMS bags will be available for fashionable, philanthropic Canadians at TOMS.ca and select retailers across the country starting on Friday, March 6.

The Artisan line is hand-crafted, hand-beaded and hand-sewn using special construction techniques that have been passed down from generations. The Travel Inspired line draws on TOMS’ employee’s experiences as world travellers, and are extremely lightweight, utilitarian, multi-functional in design and are built to wear-in beautifully with everyday and travel use. The Campus and Tech line is colourful and multi-textured and is designed to carry computers, iPads, tablets and more in style, with many of the offerings being unisex. Key silhouettes for this collection include the tote, baby bags, bucket and the hobo crossbody.

Funds from TOMS bag purchases will help provide safe births in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Haiti and India. This work will be done by a network of TOMS Giving Partners involved in maternal and child health programs, who will help provide training for skilled birth attendants, along with a safe birth kit that includes vital materials like soap, gloves, gauze, a cord clamp, surgical blade and a clean surface to help a woman safely give birth.

TOMS Tablet Sleeve in Jetset Black ($140). TOMS Canvas Drawstring in Reef Chili Chevron ($86)

TOMS Traveler Duffel in Saffrom Ikat ($164). TOMS Coastal Canvas Tote in Chili Ikat ($108)

TOMS Linen Woven Backpack ($108). TOMS Leather Canvas Backpack in Caravan Cognac ($274)

TOMS’ Giving Partners in this area include respected organizations such as United Nations Population Fund, BRAC and ayzh. In addition, TOMS has selected Every Mother Counts as its maternal health advocacy partner.

Infection is a leading cause of death among mothers and newborns worldwide, and by providing clean birth conditions and skilled birth attendants, nearly half a million lives can be saved each year. (Source: UNFPA and Every Newborn Action Plan, 2014). Each year, 40 million women around the world give birth without the help of a skilled birth attendant (Source: Millennium Development Goals Report, 2014), but with the training of skilled birth attendants and proper materials to help provide a safer delivery, women are up to 80 per cent less likely to develop an infection and nearly half of newborn deaths can be prevented (Source: UNFPA, 2015).

Of the potential impact the TOMS Bag Collection can have around the world, Mycoskie added, “While in the field, I’ve met mothers and entire families who have been affected by the physical and emotional repercussions of giving birth alone, or in unsafe environments. We feel it’s our responsibility to change this through the TOMS business model, and we’re so proud to be able to present the first One for One product that can actually help save lives.”

Image courtesy of TOMS

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United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA):
UNFPA (www.unfpa.org) is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. Since 1969, UNFPA has been working in over 150 countries that are home to 80 per cent of the world’s population.

BRAC:
BRAC (www.brac.net) is a development organization founded in Bangladesh in 1972 and a global leader in creating opportunities at scale as a means to end poverty. With more than 102,000 employees, it is the world's largest non-governmental organization, touching the lives of an estimated 135 million people in 12 countries.

ayzh:
A for-profit social venture, ayzh (www.ayzh.com) provides health and livelihood solutions to impoverished women worldwide. This includes developing low-cost, appropriate technology designed to meet the unique needs of women in resource-poor settings.

Every Mother Counts:
Every Mother Counts (www.everymothercounts.org) is TOMS’ maternal health advocacy partner. Founded by global maternal health advocate Christy Turlington Burns, Every Mother Counts is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to making pregnancy and childbirth safe for every mother. Every Mother Counts informs, engages, and mobilizes new audiences to take actions and raise funds that support maternal health programs around the world. Every Mother Counts supports programs in Haiti, Uganda, Malawi, Indonesia, India, Tanzania and the United States that address three critical barriers to maternal health care: lack of education, transportation and supplies.

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®. Since then, TOMS has given over 35 million pairs of new shoes around the world.

Realizing that One for One® could serve other global needs, TOMS launched TOMS Eyewear in 2011 to help restore sight to persons in need with every purchase of sunglasses and optical frames. Since then, TOMS has helped restore sight for over 300,000 people worldwide.

In 2014, TOMS Roasting Co. launched with the mission to provide clean water to developing communities with the purchase of premium coffee. Since its debut, TOMS Roasting Co. has provided over 67,000 weeks of safe water to communities in need in seven countries.

SERENA WILLIAMS COMPLETES HER FIRST QUARTER MARATHON AT THE SERENA WILLIAMS ULTIMATE IN MIAMI BEACH 

Serena-Willimas-running-MIAMI - Alicia Bell - Train It Right
Successful 5K Run/Walk and KIDS Dash benefits the Serena Williams Fund in support of education and victims of violent crimes

Miami Beach, FL – December 15th, 2014:  Serena Williams joined more than two thousand avid running enthusiasts from South Florida and around the country for the first annual Serena Williams Ultimate RUN South Beach on Sunday, December 14th.  Serena took part in her first Quarter Marathon (6.55 miles), among hundreds of other aspiring athletes who also participated in the 5K Run/Walk and Team Challenge – bringing together runners of all ages and abilities. The event was to raise money for the Serena Williams Fund, which provides assistance to families affected by violent crimes and providing underprivileged youth around the world with the highest quality of education available to them. Serena’s sister, Venus Williams, also gave her support by running the 5K.

Serena commented after participating in the Quarter Marathon, and crossing the finish line in a time of 1 hour 14 minutes:  “Today’s run was so enjoyable and the spirit of everyone who came out was so passionate which helped me to build the energy I needed for my first quarter marathon.  I’ve never ran that far before, so I had to pace myself, but I was pleased with my finish time.  I’d like to thank all the sponsors and everyone who participated in the run to help raise money for underprivileged youth around the world.”

The winning Male and Female in the 5K run both shattered course records and are the fastest times completed in Miami for a 5K run by both a man and a woman over the last two decades. Pablo Solares was the 1st place male winner of the 5K with an official time of 14:40 – a new course record by 45 seconds. Pablo is the Mexican National Record Holder in the Mile, 1500 meters and 800 meters. His fiancé, Shannon Rowbury, was the 1st place female winner of the 5K with an official finish time of 15:58 – a new course record by 1 minute and 30 seconds. Shannon is a U.S Olympic middle distance runner and U.S record holder in the 2 mile and is also a member of the Nike Oregon Project. Canadian Olympic distance runner for Nike Oregon Project, Cam Levins, was the 1st place male winner of the Quarter Marathon with an official finish time of 30:46 – a new course record by 5 minutes. Aimee Nielsen, from Miami, was the 1st place female winner of the Quarter Marathon with an official finish time of 40:41.

The world famous Ocean Drive was closed to traffic for the Ultimate Run’s scenic start and finish lines. The course took runners through Miami’s renowned South Beach scene, a major entertainment and tourist destination known for its picturesque beauty, Art Deco buildings, nightlife, restaurants and iconic hotels.  The legendary American track coach and retired long-distance runner, Alberto Salazar, was on-hand to fire the starting gun as a tribute to the commencement of the first annual Serena Williams Ultimate Run. Event sponsors including Nike, Gatorade, Delta, Beats by Dre and MISSION Athletecare took part in creating a memorable experience for all participants.

“Our inaugural Serena Williams Ultimate Run was quite a memorable event,” says Marc Wachter, the event’s executive producer. “Runners of all ages and abilities were very excited to come out in their thousands on a very early and crisp Miami December morning to run alongside Serena for a great cause.  We are thrilled to have had such an iconic athlete behind the first in our Ultimate Run series and Serena’s enthusiasm really gave every participant the Ultimate experience.  We look forward to making this one of Miami’s most popular sporting occasions on South Florida’s annual event calendar.”

Open to runners of all ages, registrants of the Ultimate RUN received a premium Nike tech, gender-specific Serena Williams Ultimate Run t-shirt and custom artisan finisher medal and official finisher certificate with chip-timed result.  Runners experienced recovery refreshments, post-race entertainment and a most memorable experience along one of the most famous beachfront locations in the world. A medal and Nike t-shirt was presented for the Ultimate KIDS Dash, participated in by children ages 2-10 years-old, during which Serena and Venus cheered the smallest runners to the finish.

For post-race celebrations, participants of the run, along with the Williams sisters, headed over to The Clevelander South Beach on Ocean Drive, where hundreds witnessed Serena and Venus join their other two sisters on-stage to perform karaoke to favorites that included “We Are Family” by Sister Sledge.  Prior to the sister’s much-loved karaoke performance was the event’s award ceremony, during which Serena presented the winners and runners-up with trophies for their triumphant accomplishments.

“We are thrilled that a significant portion of proceeds resulting from the Serena Williams Ultimate Run will go towards the Serena Williams Fund, which provides assistance to families affected by violent crimes and providing underprivileged youth around the world with the highest quality of education available to them,” said Michael Rose, Managing Partner of Rose Capital Advisors in Miami Beach and Board Member of the Serena Williams Fund. For further information, visit www.theserenawilliamsfoundation.org.

For further information on the Serena Williams Ultimate Run, visit www.TheUltimateRun.com and facebook.com/SerenaWilliamsUltimateRunSouthBeach or @TheUltimateRun.

The Serena Williams Ultimate Run was sponsored by Nike, Gatorade, beats by dr. dre, Delta Airlines, MISSION Athletecare, Merchant Hub, Whole Foods Market, Douglas Elliman, Rose Capital and Ocean Drive Magazine and The Clevelander South Beach. 

ABOUT THE SERENA WILLIAMS ULTIMATE RUN

The Serena Williams Ultimate Run is a one-day annual event starting on the iconic Ocean Drive in South Beach that unites thousands of avid running enthusiasts of all ages and abilities in support of the Serena Williams Fund. Co-created byfounders Michael Rose of Rose Capital Advisors, Marc Wachter, Executive Producer and Serena Williams, participants canregister to enter a Quarter Marathon (6.55 miles), 5K Run/Walk or Ultimate KIDS Dash for a chance to run alongside SerenaWilliams herself and some of today’s leading athletes who come together for a worthy cause.  A significant portion of proceeds resulting from the event benefit the SerenaWilliams Fund which provides assistance to families affected by violent crimes and providing underprivileged youth around the world with the highest quality of education available to them.  For further information, visit www.TheUltimateRun.com

ABOUT THE SERENA WILLIAMS FUND
The Serena Williams Fund was established to achieve two goals. The first is to provide assistance to youth whose parents and families have been affected by violent crimes. The Fund will do this by funding and creating programs that will provide counseling, care (foster care and day care), housing, food, and education to youth  who have been affected by violent crimes throughout the United States. The Fund’s second goal is to assist underprivileged  youth around the world in receiving the highest quality education available to them. The Serena Williams Fund has achieved and will continue to work toward this goal by providing grants and scholarships to deserving high school students around the world. This work includes the two schools currently operating in Kenya that Serena opened in 2009 and 2010 respectively. These grants and scholarships will aid the students in attending college, learning a trade, or learning how they can start their own business so that they can better themselves and the world as a whole. For further information, visit http://www.theserenawilliamsfoundation.org

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