TORONTO, Oct. 15 /CNW/ -- Leading family footwear retailer, Payless ShoeSource, announced today the launch again this year of its Payless Gives Shoes 4 Kids program aimed at delivering more than $1.2 million USD worth of children's shoes to children of families in need this holiday season through a massive grass roots approach involving a network of hundreds of charity partners. In addition, the retailer said it is expanding this year's program internationally to include Canada and across the Western Hemisphere, where the majority of its more than 4,500 stores are located.

Payless will give more than 77,000 gift coupons redeemable through Feb. 28, 2010, toward a new pair of kids' shoes at any of its stores located in Canada, the United States, Puerto Rico and in 10 Latin American countries including the Dominican Republic, Trinidad & Tobago, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Panama, Honduras, Nicaragua and Colombia. Canada will receive 4,000 free shoe gift coupons valued at $100,000 CDN that will be provided to local charities and distributed to local children of families in need.

"In America the economy appears to be on the mend, but times are still difficult on Main Street and the economic challenges are rippling across the globe," said Matthew E. Rubel, Chairman and CEO of Collective Brands, Inc., which owns Payless ShoeSource. "Footwear is a basic need that many of us take for granted, and yet a significant number of children need shoes. In a difficult economy, the underprivileged are hurt more than any other group and the charities that assist them are often underfunded. That's why we are expanding our Payless Gives Shoes 4 Kids program to Canada, Puerto Rico, and our Latin American countries and calling on charity partners again this year to help us establish an extending network to get the gift of shoes to children that need it the most this holiday season."

A Call to Non-Profits in Canada

Through this year's effort, Payless said it expects to give away more than 77,000 pairs of new shoes valued at more than $1.2 million USD through a network of hundreds of localized charities. Partnering with local charities offers a grass roots approach -- an important element of the program. It allows Payless to most effectively reach children that need shoes; it also ensures widespread and diverse coverage in urban and rural areas, as well as assists non-profits during the economic downturn as many charities, especially the small to medium sized organizations, are experiencing reduced giving among contributors.

Non-profit organizations based in Canada interested in joining Payless in its Payless Gives Shoes 4 Kids program can apply at www.paylessgives.com by completing a short online application.