Shoe Frenzy
Created by Women's Clinic and Family Counseling Center in 1996, Shoe Frenzy is an annual special event that raises funds to support our low-cost/free health care and counseling services and serves as an opportunity to educate the public about the importance of these services. Over the years Shoe Frenzy has become one of Southern California’s most beloved special events, it was created out of the need to raise awareness of preventative health care while generating funds to help to directly provide physical and mental health services for the uninsured and working poor. The formula was simple: create a one-day event that features donated name brand and designer ladies footwear on sale for a fraction of their retail prices and all funds are directly used to provide pap smears, mammograms and other valuable services. The outcome has been phenomenal! Women love shoe shopping for charity and they love Shoe Frenzy! In past years the line to get in formed at midnight - 8 hours prior to the opening of the doors! The thousands of pairs of shoes on sale at the event sell out within a few hours, but the funds raised continue to help women in need. Event costs are always kept at a minimum to insure that at least 85% of the monies raised are used to directly provide services. At past Shoe Frenzy events sponsorship support helped to make sure 100% of the funds raised went directly to services as well as aiding in our ability to increase awareness building.
AWARENESS
Women’s Clinic has participated in outreach activities in our community for decades. However since the inception of Shoe Frenzy we have noticed a very different reaction to our organization and the inclusion of Shoe Frenzy materials on our table at health fairs. The once casual glance of our pamphlets has turned into a dramatic gasp at the sight of a Shoe Frenzy flyer. High quality shoes being sold at a drastically low cost, helps to bring attention to our low-cost/high-quality services and opens the door to a variety of physical and mental health care discussions. The same response holds true from local media. Shoe Frenzy has been featured in pre-event fashion shows and in event day coverage by KTLA, KCAL, KTTV, KABC, KCBS, and KNBC. Additionally the event has been promoted on the radio and has been highlighted in The Los Angeles Times.
PROVING "HEELS CAN HEAL"
The "Heels that Heal" program is a reminder that this special event is not just about our love of shoes, it is about our love of women.
Created in 2002 by Women's Clinic and Family Counseling Center, the "Heels that Heal" program combines our signature special event Shoe Frenzy and our mission to help women. The "Heels that Heal" program sells unique accessories that help to raise additional funds for the programs of Women's Clinic and Family Counseling Center all year long. The "Heels that Heal" ribbon charm and pin, as well collectible shoe charms and Shoe Frenzy t-shirts are available for purchase on-line.
All proceeds raised at Shoe Frenzy and through our "Heels that Heal" program benefit Women’s Clinic and Family Counseling Center. Our ability to serve our community by making the most of a small staff and limited resources has allowed us to weather many financial storms we have faced due to fluctuations in government funding. However storms that people in Southern California physically do not fear – hurricanes and tsunamis – are causing a very real threat to the delicate thread that holds together the social services that so many depend on. The outpouring of support for disasters such as Hurricane Katrina has resulted in fewer donations for local charities, leading to cutbacks and concerns about meeting financial goals. Now, more than ever, the funds raised through Shoe Frenzy are vital to our ability to serve our community.
For more information please visit our Shoe Frenzy website: www.shoefrenzy.net