Contact: John Sweeney,
FACE Board of Directors,
CTO & VP, Media Services, H.H. Brown
(978) 933-4866

Greenwich, CT - H.H. Brown announced that FACE, its annual Footwear Association Charity Event, will be held in Shanghai, China, this October 31 through November 2.

Now in its sixth year, this annual golf tournament and fundraising event brings dignitaries and global leaders in the footwear industry to China to benefit life-changing programs dedicated to supporting China’s youth and underprivileged.

To date, FACE has raised over $5 million for groundbreaking charities whose efforts directly impact the well-being, healthcare and education of thousands of China’s infants, children, and others in need.

Proceeds from this year’s FACE will benefit:

The Harvard School of Public Health’s China Initiative, a progressive, first of its kind program making significant advances in the Chinese public healthcare system through specialized medical training and applied research;

The Two Ten Footwear Foundation , an organization comprised of shoe industry employees whose work with the Asia Foundation helps to provide educational and vocational training for footwear industry employees in China;

The Zhongshan Young Volunteers Association, The Soong Ching Ling Foundation, and the China Welfare Fund for the Handicapped – local organizations with proven, dedicated outreach programs in cities and towns across China.

For more information about the event, to inquire about sponsorship, or to make a donation, please contact John Sweeney at (978) 933-4866 or visit http://www.facefootwear.org.

FACE is a registered 501(c)(3) public charity.

Recently, the Zhongshan Young Volunteers Association held a grand-scale birthday party for Li Hua. Li Hua’s story has inspired so many people, and has bound the Young Volunteers closer together.

When Li Hua is at home, she passes the time by trying continuing to learn the English language – her favorite subject. Along with the books that the Young Volunteers provide her, Li Hua also enjoys the CDs (of both music and learning programs) that have been donated. Since both of her parents must work to provide for her family, Li Hua is often home by herself, and these materials help her pass the time.

Li Hua wants to thank everyone for their support and well wishes. She acknowledges the 2008 FACE dinner as the happiest day of her life. The work of the Zhongshan Young Volunteers Association has been a beacon of light and inspiration to Li Hua, and to those involved with her recovery.

Thanks to everyone who has helped make Li Hua’s progress possible. We will continue to update you on future developments.

In 2001, Li Hua was a typical, healthy 13-year-old girl, until one afternoon in physical education class when she fell and hit her head. She was rushed to the Zhongshan People’s Hospital where doctors diagnosed her with a brain hemorrhage and administered emergency surgery.

After the surgery Li Hua remained unconscious for seven days. She was then moved to a Guangzhou hospital where she spent the next 60 days in an Intensive Care Unit. When she regained consciousness, Li Hua could not speak. Because of the high cost of the medical care she required, her family had no choice but to move her back home.

Once at home, Li Hua and her family struggled to get the necessary healthcare because of the exorbitant price tag, and her family turned to the Chinese government for assistance. In addition to donating money to Li Hua’s family, government officials introduced her to the Zhongshan Young Volunteers Association. Upon learning of her story, the Young Volunteers launched three fundraising drives in 2005 to acquire money for treatment. After a few rounds of therapy, her outlook was as bright as it had been since before her accident.

However, even with the generous donations of the government and the fundraising efforts of the Zhongshan Young Volunteers Association, the cost of treatment remained an overwhelming burden for Li Hua’s family and obtaining treatment was difficult. With her part of brain suffering from permanent damage, and the left side of her body paralyzed, Li Hua cannot walk. She does not own a wheelchair, and must be carried from her sixth floor apartment whenever she needs to go anywhere.

Compassionate volunteers from the Zhongshan Young Volunteers Association visit her frequently and provide a wheelchair during these sessions to get her out and about. They are also working to get a therapist to visit Li Hua on a frequent basis to schedule and administer a physical exercise regimen. Li Hua, now 20 years old, is making strides every day to living a more fulfilling life. Through all of her hardships, Li Hua’s spirit has remained strong.

We’ll continue to update Li Hua’s condition as we receive more information about her recovery.

Proceeds from the event were directly donated to seven select charities known for their far-reaching influence and positive results.

The China Initiative, a joint venture of Harvard University’s School of Public Health and the Chinese Central government, received a grant of $250,000 for healthcare training and research. Boston-based Two Ten Footwear Foundation received $100,000 in donations at the event.

The Zhongshan Young Volunteers Association, The Soong Ching Ling Foundation, The Children’s Welfare Institution of Dongguan City, The China Welfare Fund for the Handicapped, and Traces of Love also received donations at the event. FACE has also dedicated funds to individual children in China suffering from multiple ailments, as well as children born with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities.

Next year’s event will again be held in Zhongshan, China. For more information about the 2009 event, to inquire about sponsorship, or to make a donation, please contact John Sweeney at (978) 933-4866 or visit http://www.facefootwear.org.

Formerly the H.H. Brown Charity Invitational Golf Tournament, FACE unites footwear industry leaders and dignitaries from the US, China, and around the world in an effort to build a brighter future for China’s youth each year. The organization is active year-round and has raised over $3 million since its inaugural event in 2005. FACE is a pending 501(c)(3) charitable organization registered in the state of Connecticut.

__________________

Contact: John Sweeney,
FACE Board of Directors,
CTO & VP, Media Services, H.H. Brown
(978) 933-4866

A tremendous thanks goes out to all of you for making this event our most successful one yet.

Over $1 million was raised for our seven partner charities thanks to your generous support.

For those of you who were in attendance at last month’s festivities, we hope you enjoyed the special visit from Li Hua and hearing how the Zhongshan Young Volunteers Association are giving her new hope for recovery and helping her to regain her independence. She’s a wonderful inspiration to us all, and we hope to help others like her in the years to come.

Plans for next year’s FACE tournament are already underway. For more information, or to get sponsorship information for our 2009 event, please contact John Sweeney.

This October’s FACE event is a great opportunity to connect with colleagues and have some fun while making a lasting impact in the lives of China’s less fortunate. We have a wonderful event planned and we’re looking forward to seeing you at this year’s festivities.

Donations continue to come in, and it looks like it’s going to be another successful year! Everyone should have received their invitations by now, but for those of who you can’t attend, there is still time to make a difference – just click on our How to Donate tab for details.

Our sincere thanks to our sponsors and to those of you who’ve already donated.

Can’t wait to see you next month in Zhongshan!

Formerly the H.H. Brown Charity Invitational Golf Tournament, FACE unites footwear industry leaders and dignitaries from the US, China, and around the world in an effort to build a brighter future for China’s youth. The organization has raised over $2 million since the inaugural event in 2005.

Established by H.H. Brown, Daphne, one of China’s largest footwear retailers, and other industry partners, FACE is devoted to improving the lives of China’s needy children. Proceeds from the event will support vital organizations that provide accessible healthcare, education, and social outreach to infants and children in need.

This year’s event will support The Harvard School of Public Health’s China Initiative, The Two Ten Footwear Foundation, The Zhongshan Young Volunteers Association, The Soong Ching Ling Foundation, The Children’s Welfare Institution of Dongguan City, and The China Welfare Fund for the Handicapped — charities renowned for their innovative efforts in providing both immediate relief and long-term support.

“FACE is committed to bringing about positive change in the countries where we do business. Our mission is to give China’s young people the strong foundation they need for a healthy, sustainable future, and the charities we support reflect that,” says Jim Issler, FACE President and H.H. Brown President & CEO. “Through the China Initiative, the Harvard School of Public Health is making tremendous strides in public healthcare, and Two Ten is dedicated to helping families in the footwear industry. Today the work of all our charitable partners is more important than ever. With the generosity of our sponsors and donors, we hope to raise $1 million this year.”

The FACE golf tournament and celebration will take place at the Agile Country Club in Zhongshan, one of China’s top golf complexes, on October 29-31, 2008.

For more information about the event, to inquire about sponsorship, or to make a donation, please contact John Sweeney at (978) 933-4866 or visit http://www.facefootwear.org.

FACE is a pending 501(c)(3) charitable organization registered in the state of Connecticut.

__________________

Contact: John Sweeney,
FACE Board of Directors,
CTO & VP, Media Services, H.H. Brown
(978) 933-4866