After nearly three decades of raising funds for breast cancer research, the industry will come together again this fall with “Shoes for a Cure.”
The Fashion Footwear Charitable Foundation (FFCF) is rebooting the initiative, previously known as Shoes on Sale, with a new moniker and fresh format.
The five-day shopping event, set for Oct. 18-22 at Chelsea Market in New York, is a fitting move for FFCF. Shoes on Sale, founded by Jerome and Jodi Fisher, began as a shoe sale in a tent in Central Park in 1994 and over the years raised nearly $60 million to support first-step breast cancer research.
This year, brand and retail partners for the Shoes for a Cure sale include Marc Fisher Footwear, Deckers Brands, Michael Kors, Timberland, Birkenstock, Caleres, Nordstrom, Rack Room, Zappos.com and many more.
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“I am proud to say, 2023 marks 30 years of Marc Fisher and family committing to and leading charitable efforts in the charge against breast cancer,” said founder Marc Fisher. “Thirty years ago, my father and sister created Shoes on Sale, and today we continue to be even more motivated in raising awareness and donations to fund world renowned research.”
Sandi Mines, president of FFCF, noted that every purchase made during the sale will directly contribute to research.
“Breast cancer affects millions of lives globally, and through Shoes for a Cure, we can join hands as an industry and make a tangible difference,” she said. “These funds will empower researchers and scientists to push the boundaries, seeking innovative solutions and ultimately bring us closer to a world without breast cancer.”
Kathy Forstadt, senior director of merchandising at Zappos.com, is serving as a Shoes for a Cure board member. She said, “We’re thrilled to be bringing the footwear industry together again this fall with its largest fundraising event, Shoes for a Cure. The shoe sale encourages shopping for both women’s and men’s footwear, with funds going toward breast cancer research. Zappos is a proud sponsor in helping to find a cure, and we look forward to continuing to build awareness for this great cause.”
Susan Itzkowitz, president of Marc Fisher Footwear and also a board member for Shoes for a Cure, noted that women’s health is a foundational pillar within the company, especially for its Easy Spirit brand, which is donating proceeds from its limited-edition Maxine sneaker to the cause.
“We’re thrilled to … have brands across our portfolio take part in Shoes for a Cure’s first ever five-day sale, here in New York City’s Chelsea Market,” said Itzkowitz. “We’ve committed to donating all the proceeds generated during the sale to Shoes for a Cure, specifically to aid in Dr. Lisa Newman’s valiant efforts to find a cure.”
This year, Shoes for a Cure is partnering with Dr. Lisa Newman, internationally renowned breast surgeon and researcher, to support and fund her life-changing first-step breast cancer research.
“FFCF has always been visionary in supporting breast cancer research that has been transformational from an oncologic perspective and, most importantly, lifesaving for our patients,” Newman said. “I am incredibly proud and honored that they have supported my team’s international research, which has been unraveling the genetic causes of triple negative breast cancer, as this biologically aggressive form of the disease contributes substantially to the 40 percent higher breast cancer mortality rates that we see in African American compared to white American women.”
Newman, who is based in New York, has treated legendary journalist Katie Couric, who was diagnosed with an early-stage, curable breast cancer in 2022.
And Couric will also lend her support to the Shoes for a Cure cause. On Oct. 17, she and Newman will be the special guests and speakers at an invite-only kick-off event at Nordstrom NYC’s Broadway Bar.
