Inspired Moment: Darnell Strom, “You’ve got to see a Laker’s playoff game! I’ll take you to GAME 2!”

Despite the fact that Darnell has been in LA all of 8 months, he’s already been handed LA Playoff tickets.  He’s got charisma and I’m lucky enough to reap some of the benefits of Mr Strom’s personality:)

We drank Bud Light, watched from our box suite, and wandered the stadium with our all access passes.  It doesn’t get any better than this on Sunday Funday!

This was my favorite costume by far!  Guess Who?  My favorite Laker Fan and the man who loves a great costume – David Arquette!

My Nerdtainment and quote of the day -

Che(Darnell’s coworker at CAA): “Phil Jackson is 48-0 in winning playoffs when the first game is a win!”

This quote is what helped heal the wounds of our loss.  We will win the series……PS Che was no nerd, that nerdtainment would be me writing down quotes from Che and Darnell about the NBA and the Laker’s record:)

Here’s me and JJ later on that evening – I didn’t lose my Laker pride as I went from game to JJ’s play to the MTV After Party!

Adonis Hernandez moment: “Do you need a ride home?”

We don’t always think about it but we rely on our late night cab driver for a lot: locate stop for snacks, locate the after party, locate home and get us there safely even if we are dozing off, and in the case of Friday night – help us locate important belongings.

Why is my moment from a cab driver?  Park it back to Monday.

Monday 4pm I tweet:   It’s very possible that i HAD the worst technology karma on the planet – today we reincarnated it. my computer has a new soul.

Thursday 12pm convo: Angie to Michael who lost blackberry: ”I used to lose my BlackBerry every two weeks. I never lose my BlackBerry anymore.”

Friday 11pm -approximately – crash and burn: I lost my BlackBerry

Saturday: I wake up to a broken in window and the reminder that keys and purse and atm are with BlackBerry….yet it never occurred to me to go buy a new one or set up an old phone.

Instead I tried to seek out the positive -

1: I looked down to see on my wrist a band with You Matter on it. I don’t remember putting it on but it felt like a sign that somehow all would work out.

2: I finished the book I’d been reading – And The Heart Says Whatever. Throughout the day in the minutes that I usually used to bbm, read emails and twitter, I instead held my book and read pages here and there and everywhere. I read that book at the gym, at a stoplight in the car, even while eating lunch at the bar (Ok not at the bar).

3:  At 3:30pm, I opened my laptop to find this email from Rachel Krupa (my cohort Friday night):

“Actually Angie you left your purse in a cab and I just spoke with the driver and he’s going to bring it to me around 6pm when he starts work. He has everything….keys, bag, phone and he said he tried to Facebook you. He was super sweet. No need to worry any longer and call off the search crew”.

4. Then this facebook message from an Adonis Hernandez:

“Angie this is you driver from Al’s limousine please call me at (818) 967-8270 I have something that belongs to you”.

5. 5 hours later Adonis, as promised, drives over to Ali’s bbq with my BlackBerry!  Who is this guy? That’s what everyone at the bbq says as I tell the story.  Again I am shocked at my luck as everyone in the room, even Ellen who I’d just met, offers to chip in money to give the man for his kindness.  Rachel and I went down to make the exchange and the sweet driver handed over the BlackBerry – the item that I realize I spend more time with than anyone or anything in the world. Eek – maybe work on that…

I held out the stack of bills but he shook his head. He just said “Please use my service and maybe tell your friends. That’s all I ask.” After going back and forth Rachel said, “Sir if you don’t take the money she’s going to cry.”

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————

My Road Signs:

Yield. The universe will show you that you’re not invincible – so watch it when you say “I won’t lose a BlackBerry”. Oh it can happen but karma isn’t always a bitch.

One Way. You can’t lose if you experience the Adonis moment and if you do lose, he’ll help you find it.

Follow me on Twitter: Twitter.com/AngieBanicki

Inspiration: Team Oakley – “Join us in Napa for our Learn to Ride Audi Sportscar Experience at the Infineon Racetrack!”

I spent an entire day with a fun group of daredevils learning to drive with the racecar pros!

Dax Shepard

Mae Whitman and Dax Shepard

The moment before this moment may be the most telling for me…..

After our classroom chat and a few pep talks I found myself sliding the face sock over my staticy hair, shoving on the helmet – a helmet that later seemed to squeeze in the heat with every burn and turn of tires – and then slowly lowering my body into the seat of the Audi V8. I couldn’t understand the nervous energy taking over. I barely spoke all morning. Makes no sense. I’m a speed driver maniac in my prius. This was supposed to be safe.

I suppose there was good reason that the memories came back post drive. Had I remembered climbing through my driver’s side window upside down after flipping a car that didn’t belong to me my sophomore year – well I wouldn’t have hit that 2.5 mile racecourse for speeding times. I would have only had one vision – my friends crying and screaming as I ran over a mile to the nearest house with blood dripping down my leg and instinct taking over the wheel. It took months to drive again after that and Dax I guess you’re right – I didn’t need the memory to help steer me on this course.

Instead, my nervous energy focused on the words of Pro Tony coming through my walkie talkie and of course Dick Trickle, one of the drivers on my inspiring driver list.
I will trickle this course like a mascot.

And I did…..or well tried my very best!
And it was geekzilerating!

——————————————————————————————————–

Here’s the  list of drivers my friends thought would inspire the best racecar ride.  I think I was still pretty jerky.  hint – Taryn Owens, passenger(near end of day) – “I think I’m going to throw up.”

James Bannister: Michael Schumacher

Nate Minnis: Ricky Bobby!

Tommy Meyer Klipsch: Dick Trickle! NASCAR Legend!

Anya Varda:  Mario Andretti

Heidi Kelso: Jenson Button

Eric Raine Ernst: Barney Rubble!

Jessica Paster: Dale Earnhardt…oh no he crashed and died…Dale Earnhardt JR!!!! He’s alive and gay!!!!

Ellen Pompeo and husband Chris Ivery

Shaun Sipos and Aaron Paul

Mae Whitman and Dax Shepard

Inspiration: Keyshawn Johnson, “Hang with me for drinks. On Montana.”

Destination: R + D Restaurant

So the story goes….
Janae called me and said we are going to din with Keyshawn. It’ll be hilarious.
I knew Keyshawn was famous in the sports world but I wasn’t quite sure how…..oops.

My friend Carly texted me, “I love your life! Have fun with Keyshawn. He spoke to my class at USC once!”

This is what I found on wikipedia:

‘Joseph Keyshawn Johnson (born on July 22, 1972 in Los Angeles, California) is a former American football wide receiver, interior designer, business executive, author and current television broadcaster for sports channel ESPN.’

The mascot in me was doing backflips inside. I was excited to share this moment with Janae.

The thing about Miss Twisselman is that she brings out the best in everyone. When I said, “Janae we aren’t going to have to stay long, are we? (I was antsy to have some of my Sunday night for Angie time.) Janae just looked at me and laughed. “Don’t worry Ang. It wont be long. I’m with you.”

Little did I know what I was getting into.

Keyshawn was an entertaining dinner guest….to say the least . He obviously adores Janae and after they worked on a project together they have a great repoire. He made me work to get that kid like smile out though. Thank god his friend Skeet was there to ease the tension as I tried to break through Keyshawn’s Ironman layer.

With Janae though, Keyshawn pushes and teases her for being a publicist but you can tell he respects her. He doesn’t have his own publicist though. He likes to control all of that himself and although he’s quite the public persona,  he prefers to keep his personal life private.  I was surprised to hear some of the other business ventures that Keyshawn is involved in. “I don’t need other people knowing about that though. You girls already know too much.” He says with a big grin.

We laughed a lot and without even realizing it – closed down the restaurant!

Check! Check off another inspiration.

After those 4 hours, it made sense that Keyshawn inspired Janae. He’s got vision. He’s a businessman. He’s smart. And after meeting him, he’s no doubt a character.

Take this –

I found this Keyshawn quote that made me like him even more:

“This is what matters to me, Not all the big numbers, the fancy statistics. I want to make the plays that count.”

Janae makes the plays that count. She always makes the people around her enjoy and live in the moment. When life is tough, I’m going to remind myself to make the plays count like Keyshawn and Janae.

I couldn’t resist bringing this one back. Congrats Fernando on winning the Barcelona Open!

Destination: Moet & Chandon Tom Munro Book Launch

8445 Melrose Place

Los Angeles, CA

Inspiration: CAA Agent Michael Kives “The number 10 tennis player in the world, Fernando Verdasco, is in LA this weekend, what event should we send him to?”

Actualization: Of course I always try to help Kives, but wasn’t overextending for their tennis player….until I clicked on his wiki page and saw that not only he was the number 10 tennis player, he was adorable and worth some time spent.

After passing along the event invites, I forgot about that heartthrob athlete….until I walked into Tom Munro’s event and he caught my eye.  I couldn’t focus on the walls covered by giant photos of celebrities (some of my faves being Leo, Jude Law and Ashton) and went over to ask if he was Fernando Verdasco.

Fernando is officially now my favorite tennis player and he gave me a new appreciation for his sport.  I mean tennis players get to travel EVERYWHERE! Spain to Venice to Australia to Vegas to Palm Springs to Miami….

Quote of the Night: Across the art show we watched another CAA agent flirting and after I told Fernando their love story, with raised eyebrows at the agent and said “Ooooh he wants to KEESS her!”

Do you want to see Fernando? This might be better than tennis - Calvin Klein ad

Realization: I need to watch more tennis.  30 Love Michael Kives. thanks for getting me back in the game.

Kives remember this halloween? ha

Your Moment:

Tom Munro

Guest of a Guest

Radar Online

X17

Socialite Life

Destination: Coachella, Palm Springs
Inspiration: Coachella Music Festival

It all began when…..

Rachel Krupa: “Angie, are you coming to Coachella? I need someone to have fun with me while I work at the Oasis Lounge.”
Me: “ok…yes.”
Rachel (sensing my loner angie emerging): “Don’t just say yes. Angie, tell me right now. Say you aren’t going to bail.”

Rachel defunked my funk of a mood.

No ticket. No plan. No expectations. Adventure Coachella here we go.

4:00 am Friday night/Sat morn

After quite the drive, we arrive in Palm Springs with our bags, blankets, and 3 dozen donuts.

Yes 36 donuts Miss Page Farmer bought from a teriyaki/donut shop we found on our road trip up – yes the place sells chinese and pastries together.

Page yelled into the drive-thru window – btw she is 2 hrs and 2 red bulls in – “Please sir. We have to go pee. Please open your doors so we can use your bathroom! I’ll buy a donut from you! OK- A dozen!! Fine 2 dozen! Please.  How many? Ok 3 dozen. 3 dozen! Final deal.”

The store owner never said a word.

He just stared, shook his head maybe once and smiled very amused at the 3 girls in front of him doing the pee pee dance.  He finally laughed, gave in and unlocked his doors.

From these bathroom stalls to a few more stalls along the way…

“now I know how nicole richie did it. She probably wasn’t event drunk, just on 80 red bulls ” – page when she drove wrong way on highway

Those 36 donuts made it though – through the traffic, then the party goers and finally to our Palm Spring Oasis in the maids quarters at the estate of the Merv Griffin!

Where’s merv sleep? He’s dead jen.

12pm Saturday

How did I get my ticket you ask? Mike Gifford bbms and says, “want my vip ticket and parking? Its yours ang.”
Sheesh, Mr. Gifford is a good guy. I am always shocked by this kind of kindness-I know people who sold their tickets for $1000 – JJ Banicki says it’s just that some people give of themselves and are just good down to the core.  We are lucky to meet them. Mike is one of those people.

6pm Saturday Coachella grounds

Page was photo queen

Me and Neil chillin

We ran into friend Brandon Birtell chilling on the ground in the VIP. Sometimes inspiration comes at the weirdest time and most random please but I was grateful for a boost of it from my old friend.

“Angie, take your time with your project and don’t give in or give up.  Do you know the story of Chazz Palminteri?” Brandon then told me how he met Chazz and Chazz told him this gem of inspiration.

Chazz wrote a script that was very personal to him.  Investors came to him offering him money for the script but Chazz wouldn’t sell the script until he was guaranteed the role of Sonny. From $100,000 to 1 MILLION dollars, he kept refusing the offers for years…And then Robert De Niro came to him offered him the money and the role.  That movie, A BRONX TALE, was made with Chazz playing Sonny alongside Robert De Niro and the movie made millions!

Brandon’s words stuck with me all weekend.  Brandon is another one good to the core.

9pm Saturday Main Stage

At the main festival stage during MGMT, we run into Bryan Greenberg and friends.  Before the girls and I know it we are holding hands linked. All 8 of us now actually.

Swerving from the back towards the stage – we were being shocked by an Electric Eel moving to ELECTRIC FEEL.

Like little KIDS on a playground, we let the cute boys pull us through the crowd of thousands. We had no control and tipsily allowed ourselves to just enjoy the ride.

I didn’t want our TIME TO PRETEND to end – so we continued like kids over to the gravitron at the Armani Exchange Carnival party at the airport hangar and then Sunday onto the shoulders of the guy standing behind us at Phoenix – we experienced Coachella in our own Liztopmania.

apparently we weren’t the only ones…

9pm Sunday night

Rachel and I decided our weekend was done. We went in search of Bucky.

We had decided Coachella has to be run by stoners…..

-Page literally walked past 4 gates and into VIP with no ticket and without a single person asking her to see her pass.

-The Coachella atm spit out $80 to me with a receipt that $100 was taken from my bank account along with a $2.50 service fee(ok smart stoners?)

Our train changed tracks when we ran into Robin Garvick.
Robin yanked our Sunday and brought us back to Funday.
From the moment she yelled, “Rachel Krupa! Angie Banicki!” We felt the switch….from wind down to wind up.

As we laughed with Robin and that big happy smile, she handed us the tequila shots that became the tipping point of our night.

Here’s the toast that flipped it-

And then we found Buky. Who’s Buky?

Buky is the guy who waits in the Coachella parking lot for 20 minutes because his friend needs a ride and can’t find anyone.  Buky was also hosting a post Coachella party that had already started. Bucky waits and waits…but not without a little fun. When said friend calls, lost and crying for help, Buky puts on the speakerphone so his car full of people can hear the manboy admitting his fear!

Buky made us laugh till we cried in the back of that escalade. Buky was the Coach of Coachella.

1pm Monday Krupa’s Car

Team Krupa and Banicki depart the All Points Coachella Oasis and head back to reality.

We left knowing we are on the right track in our life adventure

Destination: Hollywood Starline Tourbus

Inspiration: Keith Rivers from the Cincinnati Bengals, “Go on a hollywood star tour!”

When Janae called to say we were going on the star tour for her next 30 before 30 moment, we both knew we were in for some laughs and quite an experience….

For 2 hours we were going on Mission Sightsee LA!

For 2 hours we were going to ride on a bus and hear about the town we’d been living in for  years.

For 2 hours we were going to see where celebrities lived. ha.

You laugh.  That’s your inspiring moment?

Try it.  I dare you. Rewind the clocks and experience LA through newcomer’s eyes.

Janae brought along 5 cute boys who made Mission Sightsee LA 30 times more fun – Tom Tom, Tony, Geordie, Ben and Jesse, we’ll call them The Entertainers.

Here are some highlights of what we learned and why we laughed -

• David – our bus driver. David had a heavy Boston accent and was Mission Sightsee LA oozing of Cheeeese.  The Entertainers teased him but he was half the fun!
• We rode on a topless van and heard about the places where we lived and worked and visited – our hometown. The Entertainers provided the best commentary. There’s the Rock&Roll Ralphs –  it’s the meat market of singles grocery shopping in LA.
• Landord! Will Ferrell and Orlando Bloom are neighbors!  Do you think the landlord has ever paid Orlando a visit?
• “Anyone know Phil Collins? You might remember his song “take me home” – well I just took you to his home!” – Driver David
• In Beverly Hills, go to Roxbury Street above sunset!  ”A lot of famous people used to live here but they’re all dead now so we call this celebrity row.  Remember Elvis?…..dead.  the guy from BH Hillbillies….dead.  Diane Keaton….not dead.”
• Driver David got excited and told a british passenger, ” Did you see that the girl with the rack jogging was wearing a London T shirt?”
• In Bel Air David said very matter of factly “Guys, that person on the corner is going to wave to you now.”(lady waves)  ”That was not a woman – it was a man.”  Ok Boston. It was clearly a woman.
• There’s Tom Cruise’s home back there. You can’t really see.  He keeps it private……
• “This is David Beckham’s house.  One time I saw Posh walk down the driveway.”  Driver David stops on the street next to the Beckham driveway. We all look at DD then at the mailbox then at DD..all this for a good 15 seconds. Someone really likes the Beckhams.

Sightsee tour Moment- check. Mission completed- check. Inspired – check.

We laughed.
We were reminded of some of the greatest talents who lived.
We were reminded of our first experiences in LA and how far we’ve come…how much we’ve achieve and what we plan to achieve.

Sharing moments……

My friend Janae turns 30 next month – below is the letter we sent to the influential people in her life.

Janae wanted to be rejuvenated so we have set out to re-janaevize with help from her friends.

Perhaps it will inspire you to send out an email to the people in your life who inspire you!  Or maybe you have a moment to send us to experience-comment below!

Hi everyone,

My 30th birthday is right around the corner and I want to turn 30 rejuvenated, inspired, and ready for my 30’s! My amazing friend and super LA publicist Angie Banicki – following in her 30 before 30 tradition – is helping me do my own 30 before 30 and we plan to blog some of it on www.angies30before30blog.com

How it works:

I need 30 inspiring moments in LA county (and anywhere that is a close drive away  - Palm Springs, Santa Barbara, Big Bear even) before I blow out my candles on May 6th! Think of your favorite memories, favorite places, wackiest experiences, most inspiring moments . . . Be as simple or as creative as you want,  and then Angie and I will hit the road to do and document them!

You might have seen our escapades and moments in Australia.  (I even got my own moment when we landed back in the U.S.A.!). We did everything from  bat hunting in Sydney thanks to Dax Shepard, to the Mechad Brooks mission of eating Morton Bay Bugs in Melbourne, to Lil Jon making us drink till we dropped in Lorne, to watching the rove show for Jay Leno.

One of my favorite moments was when Robin Williams sent us to Palm Beach.  We had an amazing dinner beachside with a fantastic crew of newfound Aussie friends that ended with me zooming through the streets of Palm beach on a super charged motor scooter in a dress and sneakers!

Each moment I was on with her brought new experiences, new fun, new friends, a new found fondness of life that I cant wait to do all over in LA. Being that 30 is such a pinnacle year, and since you have positively effected the course of my career and life, I want you to be a part of this mission with us . . .

I HAVE TO GATHER MY MOMENTS QUICKLY SO I AM HOPING TO HEAR FROM YOU THIS WEEK!

Here are a few questions to get you started and thanks so much in advance . .

*What is one of your favorite memories in LA? Where’d you go and why
*Where did you meet someone new and unexpectedly?
*If you could tell a traveler where to go in their first trip to LA where would you send them? Could be a restaurant, museum, hotel, landmark, street corner
*Do you know someone we should go see? i.e. When people ask me about Australia I always send them to see our Aussie mom Lynn at Byron bay who completely took care of us girls and has the most caring soul and positive outlook on life. She spent hours with us talking about life and love and showed us what a true quality of life should be!
*Is there an event in April/May or specific event or tradition that we should take part in?
*Are you going to be in town during the next month and if so could we bring you on our journey

Stay tuned to www.angies30before30.com to see our adventures

Janae

Uh Angie -you’re 31? Why are you still doing 30 Before 30?

30 Before 30 is the story of how I, Angie Banicki, put my career on the line and headed out on an adventure around Europe for 30 days before my 30th birthday. Me – small-town dorkypants gone Hollywood publicist – gave in to gut instinct and risked all that I had worked so hard to achieve in search of inspiration and purpose. I started by creating a list of the most inspiring and influential people in my life and then gathered their favorite moments to construct my journey. I went to Europe with a peek – a snapshot – into the most precious memories of others.

And who wants to stop getting inspiration, right? So I continued with the moments and started the blog so that I could keep going while I finished writing the story of my European journey that had started it all….

I’ve decided to graduate from my 30 Before 30 and become professor like Dad Banicki. I will make it my assignment to help create these special moments for others…..by reaching out to the inspiring people in their lives and tracking down the people who they want to inspire them.

I want to show how you can create a 30 Before 30 or even an 80 Before 80 – like Grandpa T. A passion project to help you get through troubled times, gain knowledge about yourself by experiencing someone else’s meaningful moment, or just make some fun out of life….and show it doesn’t have to be in Europe:)

30B30 Victim/Recipient #1 = 29 yr old Janae Twisselman starts this week – with moments from Keyshawn Johnson, Grandma Rose and Papa, and skater, Stevie Williams.

Here’s how it works and our Day 1 – My Mission Moment

Destination of the moment – Santa Monica and Muscle Beach

Inspiration of who and what got us there – Grandma Rose and Papa T, who are a big part of Janae’s life, send us to the place they met and fell in love

Actualization of what happened – Jj Banicki provided the BeBackstage CD of inspiring songs for the drive down to the Westside. We visited grandma and grandpa’s first home in Santa Monica. Rose and Papa T are two peas in a pod. From Papa’s room full of books of photographs he’s taken over the years to Rose’s stories of their grandkids – they inspire you to find true love! Janae and I then headed to Venice to watch the muscle men like they liked to do! We had a lot of laughs along the way.

Realization describing what lesson came from the moment – I pulled this quote out of Mom’s Inspiring Quotes Bowl the morning we began – When people show you who they are, believe them. Maya Angelou

Janae has been a constant cheertweeter of 30b30! She made me believe in myself and when she emailed me that she was in a funk, I knew it was time to pay it forward and remind her why I believed in her….and so did that muscle man on the boardwalk:)

Your moment completes the DIARY – Visit the Venice boardwalk and observe some muscles. Or ask your grandparents for something that inspires them and go do it:)

In one month, I will start on another 30b30…..if you want to be my

next passion project, tell me why YOU need inspiration or how I could

help create your 30 Before 30!

Destination: One Day Without Shoes Event, Venice, CA

Inspiration: Blake Mycoskie, Founder TOMS Shoes, I want to invite you to join me for a gathering of my closest friends to celebrate One Day Without Shoes on Thursday, April 8th. “

As you know….. One Day Without Shoes is a day each year that we walk barefoot to spread awareness about the impact a pair of shoes can have on the lives of so many children who grow up without them.  each year it’s incredibly powerful to see the outpouring of support, as more and more people join us in our barefoot walks and events around the world.  this year, i’d love to share this moment with you in an intimate setting, just for close friends on abbot kinney in venice.  we will be getting together at AXE restaurant on the back patio (1009 abbot kinney blvd) at 3:30.  there will be wine and a short presentation about the work TOMS is doing throughout the world, by yours truly.  we will then walk barefoot for 3 blocks along abbot kinney to my sisters store Aviator Nation, where a party with music, festivities and of course more refreshments will await us.  i look forward to seeing you then.

Actualization: Did you go barefoot April 8th?  Have you ever gone barefoot for the day?  I highly recommend it!

I took my barefoot drive down to venice and then walked the streets in search of TOMS.  This is how i found the place –

Follow the naked feet.

Blake spoke and then we headed on our short walk to Aviator Nation and celebrated the day with music and Veev and JJ Banicki!

Why would you want to dirty your feet? Or risk stepping in glass?  Or risk getting a gnarly foot disease?

I did it for 3 reasons -

1 – The inspirational Blake Mycoskie. When you look up to someone you want to do what they do right…? You support them, learn from them, and take off your shoes with them.

When Blake volunteered at the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation events I planned in my first job out of school,  I knew he would do big things but I never thought he would create this worldwide movement.

2 – TOMS Shoes –  Blake’s company is helping barefoot kids around the world and giving them happy feet.  With every pair of TOMS purchased, TOMS gives a pair of new shoes to a child in need.  One for One.

I wanted to feel a part of that aside from buying the shoes that I already loved to wear:)

3 – Venice – I needed a good excuse to head to the other side of LA.  The relaxed, serene side and why not feel the ground there with my own bare feet?

Why should you try the barefootsy?

• It’s a reminder how lucky we are.  There millions of kids in developing countries who pick up diseases and infection on their feet and some can’t even go to school because they don’t have the shoes that are part of their required uniform.  No education all because of shoes!  I posted some statistics below.
• Walking around barefoot is freeing.
• You get a warm fuzzy for doing something good.

Realization: As I listened to Blake talk about the kids, their shoe drops and his company’s mission, I was inspired to want to do more, give back, and think big.

Your Moment: What can you now until the next One Day Without Shoes?

Go support the cause and buy some TOMS or go grassroot, and make your own day without shoes and feel the grass on your barefeet.
- – More than 400 million kids are at risk of hookworm and other debilitating parasites that enter the body through the soles of (bare) feet.

- – In Ethiopia alone, more than 11 million people are at risk of podoconiosis, a foot and leg disease that is 100% preventable with shoes and regular washing

- – Despite hundreds of millions of kids being exposed to soil-transmitted diseases, many of these diseases are categorized as “neglected” – they just don’t get enough attention or funding.

- – In Guatemala, our giving partner SANA is pairing TOMS shoes with de-worming education and de-worming drugs – prevention + treatment together!

- – We are now  advocating for podo awareness on a global stage. Recently had AMAZING confirmation from the World Health Organization that they are going to profile podo on their website for the FIRST TIME EVER!