Feet First: Founder of TOMS Shoes, Blake Mycoskie, and Secretary Hillary Clinton at the 11th annual Awards for Corporate Excellence at the U.S. Department of State. Credit: TOMS Shoes

Been doing a little sole searching this holiday season?

If so, you should check out TOMS Shoes — a fab new company that Hillary Clinton recognized with an ACE Award at the 11th annual Awards for Corporate Excellence at the U.S. Department of State last night.

TOMS has given more than 150,000 pairs of shoes to children in need by following a simple philosophy: give away one pair of shoes for each pair sold to someone in need.

Katherine Kennedy

So, exactly what does one do after an ACE ceremony?

TOMS founder, Blake Mycoskie, celebrated the honor at a cocktail party at the new W Hotel Washington, which Katherine Kennedy of the Blonde Charity Mafia helped plan.

The guestlist included Zac Hanson, from the band Hanson, who has purchased six pairs of TOMS Shoes — as well as some local TOMS enthusiasts, including Elliott Bisnow of Bisnow on Business, Special Assistant at the White House Office of Social Innovation Howard Buffett, and EarthECHO International’s CEO Philippe Cousteau.

Why Shoes?

• In some developing nations, children must walk for miles to food, clean water and to seek medical help.
• Cuts and sores on feet can lead to serious infection.
• Often, children cannot attend school barefoot.
• In Ethiopia, approximately one million people are suffering from Podoconiosis, a debilitating and disfiguring disease caused by walking barefoot in volcanic soil.
• Podoconiosis is 100% preventable by wearing shoes.

But, don’t take it from us. For more information, visit TOMS Shoes online at TOMSshoes.com; and read Blake’s thoughts in “Accepting the ACE Award” on the TOMS blog.

Then, hop on the sole train – and let your own feet do the talking!

Foot Notes: Blake makes a TOMS Shoes drop.