Designer Brands Inc., the parent company of major footwear retailers, is once again demonstrating its commitment to corporate social responsibility by shutting down its corporate offices for a day to mobilize its workforce for the greater good. On Friday, approximately 1,200 employees worldwide will step away from their desks, spreadsheets, and meetings to engage in hands-on volunteer work with nonprofit and community organizations. This large-scale initiative marks the firm’s second annual "Step Up and Serve" day, an ambitious endeavor designed to put the company’s core values directly into practice on an international scale.
The scope of Friday’s volunteer efforts is extensive, reflecting the global footprint of the company and the diverse interests of its personnel. Staff members have been given a wide array of options to contribute to their local communities. In hubs such as Columbus, Ohio—where the company is headquartered—as well as the greater New York area, Boston, and Toronto, employees will participate in activities ranging from cleaning up schoolyards and packing essential hygiene kits to mentoring high school students and supporting various local nonprofits.
International operations are also joining the movement. Staff members at international offices located in countries such as China, Vietnam, and Brazil will participate in dedicated volunteer work on October 9. Meanwhile, corporate team members who work remotely are not left out of the equation. They have the opportunity to participate virtually through SuitUp, a specialized organization that pairs Designer Brands employees with high school students to help them solve a real business case study. Additionally, all corporate employees have been given the flexibility to volunteer independently with charitable organizations that they already support and hold close to their hearts within their own neighborhoods.
The initiative first launched last year with a clear mission: to bring two of the company’s guiding values, "We Do What’s Right" and "We Belong," to life. Beyond providing direct aid to those in need, the program was designed to offer employees a unique opportunity to work alongside one another, fostering camaraderie and building stronger professional and personal connections outside of their day-to-day corporate responsibilities. The impact of the inaugural event was tangible. Last year, Designer Brands employees across the United States, Canada, India, and China successfully logged more than 1,000 volunteer hours in a single day, setting a high standard for corporate engagement.
The overwhelmingly positive response from the workforce following last year’s event made bringing the program back an easy decision for the company’s executive leadership. Employees expressed deep appreciation for the chance to give back to their communities collectively. According to the company’s chief executive officer, this feedback served as a clear indicator that the corporate day of service should become a permanent fixture in the company’s annual calendar.
"Step Up and Serve gives us a chance to support our communities, work alongside one another, and build stronger connections across our teams," the CEO noted, emphasizing that bringing the event back for a second year was a natural choice driven by employee enthusiasm and organizational values.
Demonstrating leadership from the top down, Designer Brands’ executive leadership team will actively participate by leading various volunteer sites and working side-by-side with corporate employees. Notably, the CEO is scheduled to roll up his sleeves and volunteer alongside DBI staff members at the Boys & Girls Club of Central Ohio, highlighting the hands-on culture the company strives to cultivate.
Financial support accompanies the sweat equity being invested by the workforce. The DBI Foundation has announced that it will contribute a total of $73,400 to the participating organizations, with individual grants ranging from $3,000 to $12,000. Furthermore, the company is providing tangible support closer to home, including $900 in DSW gift cards to the Harlem Link Charter School to assist students and their families. International efforts are also receiving direct support; for instance, DBI employees in China are set to donate more than 500 pairs of shoes to women in need within their local communities. Overall, the grants distributed through the DBI Foundation this year are strategically targeted to support organizations that focus on crucial areas such as education, food access, basic human needs, youth development, and neighborhood improvement.
Designer Brands is far from alone in its dedication to philanthropy within the broader footwear sector. In fact, the footwear industry has long positioned itself as one of the most generous and socially active segments within the broader fashion and retail sector, with numerous companies launching large-scale charitable initiatives, foundations, and community partnerships.
The philanthropic momentum within the industry is visible year-round. This past June, the Two Ten Foundation’s annual gala drew a crowd of 750 industry professionals and successfully raised nearly $650,000. These funds are earmarked to provide vital emergency relief, financial hardship assistance, and educational programs designed to support the hardworking individuals who power the U.S. shoe industry.
Summer and autumn have brought a wave of additional philanthropic campaigns from household names in footwear. In July, Crocs and Famous Footwear joined forces to launch a back-to-school limited-edition clog. Priced at $49.99, 20 percent of the proceeds from every single purchase of the special footwear were directly earmarked to benefit foster children through the Ticket to Dream Foundation.
Nordstrom also made significant strides in community support. In August, the retailer announced it would host 20 distinct shoe delivery events across 17 different markets, aiming to provide 50,000 children with brand-new sneakers. This massive undertaking is part of the company’s 16th annual Shoes That Fit campaign, which spans multiple windows from August through January.
Looking further into the autumn calendar, the footwear industry’s commitment to giving back shows no signs of slowing down. Later this month, on October 18, Skechers is set to host its annual Pier to Pier Friendship Walk. The prominent event is designed to raise critical funds and awareness to support children with special needs, enhance public education, and fuel Skechers’ national college scholarship program.
Simultaneously, upcoming events from Shoes for a Cure—an organization that has already raised over $65 million to support breast cancer research—will bring the industry together in major metropolitan hubs. The group is hosting Shoes for a Cure Miami from October 15 through October 18 at the Miami Design District, followed closely by Shoes for a Cure New York from October 21 through October 25 at Chelsea Market.
The broader landscape of footwear-linked philanthropy has also seen monumental personal contributions from industry pioneers. Earlier this month, Nike cofounder Phil Knight and his wife, Penny, made staggering philanthropic commitments by pledging a $1 billion gift to the University of Oregon to construct a new college of engineering. Additionally, the couple announced a $1.1 billion gift directed to the Providence St. Vincent Medical Center and the Providence Heart Institute. This historic donation is intended to establish the state’s first hospital entirely dedicated to women’s health while simultaneously helping to advance the next generation of cardiovascular treatment and patient care, underscoring the profound and lasting impact that leaders within the footwear community continue to make on society.
