Toms goes barefoot on the beach to mark One Day Without Shoes

Toms Shoes, the company that donates one pair of shoes to needy children around the globe for every pair of shoes they sell, asked friends to go barefoot on the beach to raise awareness for the cause.

On Thursday, Toms founder Blake Mycoskie left his slip-ons at home to mark the third year of One Day Without Shoes and asked friends, including actresses Olivia Wilde ("House") and Julia Jones ("The Twilight Saga: Eclipse"), to shed their heels at Axe restaurant and walk down Abbot Kinney to his sister Paige's Aviator Nation boutique. The point is to drive home the message of what it would be like to spend a day barefoot as many people around the world do when they lack the means to purchase a pair. 

According to Toms' website, more than a quarter of a million people participated in 1,600 One Day Without Shoes events around the world, including the one here.

Mycoskie had biked to the office that morning wearing no shoes and had cut his foot within the first 45 minutes. "One Day without Shoes is to realize the importance of going without," he said.

"It feels great to go without shoes, but it's only for a day," said Wilde, who's about to start shooting "Cowboys and Aliens" with Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford. "It's a brilliant way to raise awareness of children in developing countries and put yourself in someone's shoes for a few hours."

-- Max Padilla

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Photo: From left, Julia Jones, Blake Mycoskie and Olivia Wilde. Credit: Max Padilla

Comments

[Efrem]

As a barefooter in daily life, I have mixed feelings about this promotion/charity by Tom's shoes. Their point seems to be that going barefoot is horrible and by experiencing how terrible it is, you can get an idea of what these poor children have to live with. Maybe going barefoot is horrible for you, because you've worn shoes every day of your life, but don't project your phobias onto these people who live this way. Going barefoot for them is not horrible torture, it's just the way they live. Instead of shoes, how about running water, better medical facilities, access to education, etc.

[MotherLodeBeth]

Unless I have to go someplace where shoes are required, I am barefoot. And it was nice to see Demi Moore on Jay Leno, Thursday night, also mentioning going barefoot for one day, and how Tom gives shoes to children in needy places. And yes, I wash my feet during the day and before I go to bed. And because I wear Berks, my feet are healthy.

[Ron]

I am sure Tom is well-meaning in his efforts. But, L.A. Times, you "shoot him in the foot" with that cheeze-ball photo of him with two hot chicks. The three of them look ridicuolus in their posed shot. It looks more like they are ready for a threesome than to make a difference in the world. Give us a break.

[ShenoahDesigns]

Dozens of students at my sons high school participated in the One Day Without Shoes, only to receive In School Suspension for being out of dress code. What a shame that all of the "voices" cannot be heard.

[Hank]

Who's Tom? ; )

[nhl]

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just seemed that way.