Founder of Toms shoes, eyewear to speak in Youngstown

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Blake Mycoskie, founder of TOMS and New York Times best-selling author, is the featured speaker for Youngstown State University’s Paul J. and Marguerite K. Thomas Colloquium on Free Enterprise at 7 p.m. Oct. 7 at Stambaugh Auditorium.

The lecture is free. Tickets are required, however, and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. They can be obtained at the Stambaugh Auditorium Box Office or at the Dean’s Office in the Williamson College of Business Administration in Williamson Hall on the YSU campus. For information, call the YSU Office of Alumni and Events at 330-941-3497.

During travels in Argentina for a television competition, Mycoskie became aware of the hardships faced by children without shoes. A serial entrepreneur, he founded TOMS, which centers on the One for One concept: For every pair of shoes sold, TOMS donates one pair to children in need.

In 2011, Mycoskie added TOMS eyewear to the same business model, and the company has saved or restored eyesight to more than 150,000 people in need.

Read more about Toms and the event in Friday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.