Payless helps give NYC kids some fresh air

NEW YORK CITY and TOPEKA, Kan. Payless has partnered with The Fresh Air Fund once again for the Friendship Shoe program designed to raise money and awareness for the nonprofit organization and its mission to give inner-city children from New York City "fresh air" through free summer experiences at Fresh Air Fund camps and with host families in "Friendly Towns" outside the city.

Payless is now selling its "Friendship Shoe" for $17.99 in children's sizes and $22.99 in adult sizes, while supplies last, at about 280 Payless stores in the New York City metro area (including stores in Connecticut, Pennsylvania and New Jersey) and on Payless.com. Payless will donate 100% of the net profits from the sale of the Friendship Shoe to The Fresh Air Fund.

"Our Friendship Shoe celebrates friendship - it's a unique item for children to carry out the time-honored tradition of sharing each other's signatures -- and it's fully philanthropic, helping give summer camp opportunities to children who might not have them," said LuAnn Via, president of Payless ShoeSource. "This is our third year with this program and we are thrilled to partner with The Fresh Air Fund on an empowering initiative that will ignite a range of possibilities for children, and especially to help Fresh Air Fund kids to get out of the city this summer and experience new friends, new venues, and new activities."