30th Anniversary of Genesco’s Annual Community Outreach Cold Feet, Warm Shoes
More than 250 Genesco employee volunteers took part in Genesco’s 30th annual Cold Feet, Warm Shoes community event in December 2018. Together, Genesco volunteers fit approximately 400 students at the children with a new pair of FILA shoes, warm socks and a new FILA sweatshirt for holidays and pending winter season. Company volunteers set up a mock shoe store in the Park Avenue Elementary gym in Nashville, Tennessee, empowering the students with a choice, providing the students the same respect and service that they would receive in any of its 1,400-plus retail stores, and sharing together a special experience with the children. The program was established by Genesco in 1989, and to date, more than 100,000 pairs of shoes have been fitted by employees to men, women, and children in need.In the News:
United Way and Golf Tournament
Each year hundreds of vendors and customers from across the world join Genesco employees for the United Way "Make a Difference Charity Golf Tournament" in Nashville. Underwritten 100% by Genesco, all proceeds benefit the United Way of Metropolitan Nashville and middle Tennessee as a whole. The Genesco volunteer-run event, which includes approx. 75 or more employees ranging from its steering group to course volunteers, has netted more than $5 million since 2003. In addition, each Fall employees band together internally to raise money for the United Way of Metropolitan Nashville. From bake sales and chili cook-offs to Corn Hole tournaments and outreach, Genesco employees make an impact and a difference in the lives of thousands of Middle Tennesseans.Beyond its volunteer efforts giving back to the community, Genesco believes it is important to give back to its greatest assets, its own employees. The Company maintains two legacy programs to make a difference in its own employees’ lives. These include:
Genesco’s Employee Scholarship Fund
Established as part of the Company’s 75th anniversary celebration, and in commemoration to its employees, Genesco endowed an Employee Scholarship Fund, which assists employees of Genesco and their children, both full-time and part-time, in attending four-year colleges and universities. The selection process weighs merit and financial need with an emphasis on financial need. A history of extracurricular and civic participation is part of the selection criteria. Recipients are required to attend an accredited university or college. In 2017, an International Employee Scholarship was made available to non-U.S. based employees. Eligibility: Current employees or children of current employees of Genesco as of the application date, who will be enrolled as an undergraduate in an accredited institution for the following fall semester, are eligible to apply. The scholarship committee of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee serves as a third party entity that oversees the application and selection process. Applications for U.S. employees may be accessed at www.cfmt.org/request/scholarships. Applications for the International Employee Scholarship, for non-U.S. based employees, can be found at www.cfmt.org/request/scholarships/genescointernational/.Genesco Employee Scholarship Flyer (click here to download PDF)
Genesco Employee Emergency Fund
The Genesco Employee Emergency Fund was established in 2010 following the devastating Nashville, Tennessee, 1,000-year flood. The fund helps Genesco employees or eligible dependents who are experiencing economic hardship as a result of certain unforeseen and unpreventable circumstances. This includes employees who are unable to afford housing, utilities, and other basic living expenses. In 2017, the Employee Emergency Fund was expanded to include international applications for non-U.S. based employees. A full summary and application information can be found at www.cfmt.org/give/corporate-funds/genesco-employee-emergency-fund/.The Genesco Employee Emergency Fund Program Flyer (click here to download PDF)
Genesco’s community relations program supports non-profit initiatives and organizations that strive to improve the overall quality of life in the communities where our employees work and live. The program seeks to align limited charitable resources with employees’ volunteer leadership and activities, and areas of corporate interest. Through these priorities, the program attempts to build goodwill for the Company in the community and to enhance its attractiveness as an employer. For more information and application information, please view our Criteria for Giving & Donation Application Process. But beyond financial giving, the Company empowers employees to volunteer and make an impact in their communities through a variety of supportive initiatives, including: Genesco’s Community Service Policy provides Genesco’s full-time employees at the corporate offices and in Journeys, 10 hours per year of paid time to perform community service. Genesco Employee Matching Gifts Program will match up to four donations per employee or director for a combined total of $1,000 each fiscal year to accredited 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations.