From bankruptcy to billion-dollar impact: Nashville nonprofit leader Buddy Teaster shares how Soles4Souls transformed simple shoe donations into life-changing opportunities across 130 countries.
When Buddy took over as CEO in 2012, Soles4Souls was losing $2.5 million annually and facing devastating press coverage. Today, they're on track to achieve one billion dollars in global economic impact by 2030. Their innovative model sells donated shoes and clothing to entrepreneurs in developing countries while providing new items to children experiencing homelessness.
In this inspiring conversation, Buddy reveals the TEAM values framework that rebuilt their culture, explains their groundbreaking For Every Kid program serving 250,000 children annually, and shares how partnerships with DSW, Famous Footwear, and Zappos revolutionized donation convenience.
Whether you're leading a team, running a business, or simply want to make a difference in Middle Tennessee, this episode offers powerful insights on creating sustainable impact from crisis.
Key takeaways include the importance of starting with "why," making giving convenient, and how something as simple as shoes can restore dignity and confidence to children and entrepreneurs worldwide.
Ready to get involved? Learn where to donate shoes locally and how just $20 can provide new sneakers for a homeless child in our community.
Links:
- https://soles4souls.org
- https://www.dsw.com/en/us/category/donation-program
- https://soles4souls.org/race-for-every-kid/
- https://www.zappos.com/zappos-for-good
🎬 WATCH THE VIDEO
Watch all episodes on our YouTube Channel
@YouMatterNashville
💡 NOMINATE A GUEST
Know someone making an impact in the Middle Tennessee area?
Nominate Them Here
🌐 FOLLOW US
Facebook: @youmatternashville
Instagram: @youmatternashville
TikTok: @youmatternashville
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
The Brothers Ortiz
The Brothers Ortiz is the story of two brothers–both successful, but in very different ways. Gabe Ortiz becomes a third-highest ranking officer in all of Texas while his younger brother Larry climbs the ranks in Puro Tango Blast, a notorious Texas Prison gang. Gabe doesn’t know all the details of his brother’s nefarious dealings, and he’s made a point not to ask, to protect their relationship. But when Larry is murdered during a home invasion in a rented beach house, Gabe has no choice but to look into what happened that night. To solve Larry’s murder, Gabe, and the whole Ortiz family, must ask each other tough questions.