Shoe Carnival is pledging its support to U.S. footwear employees and their families with a $1 million commitment to the Two Ten Footwear Foundation.

The Fort Mill, S.C.-based footwear retailer noted that the commitment includes $100,000 to establish the Shoe Station Endowed Scholarship, which will provide up to $4,000 – renewable for up to four years – to help footwear employees and their dependents pursue higher education. The remaining $900,000 will fund emergency relief grants to help footwear families recovering from natural disasters.

The donation, which will be made through the Shoe Station Group Foundation, will be delivered as annual contributions from 2026 through 2028, the company said.

Mark Worden, president and chief executive officer of Shoe Carnival – which is set to officially change its name to Shoe Station Group at its annual shareholder meeting in June 2026 – told FN in an exclusive interview that he “couldn’t think of a better cause” than Two Ten to support the industry he loves.

“We’ve been proud to contribute to Two Ten for a very long time,” Worden said. “And we’ve decided that as Shoe Station grows in America, and as we reach more states, our responsibility grows to do more for footwear industry families at times of need.”

Indeed, the footwear retailer has been a partner in Two Ten’s mission to lift lives in the footwear industry for more than 30 years, having contributed over $1 million to Two Ten prior to this latest commitment. Worden has served on Two Ten’s board of directors since 2024.

“When someone loses their home in a hurricane or gets the chance to be the first in their family to attend college, Two Ten delivers impact that changes lives,” Worden noted. “This $1 million commitment reflects our belief that investing in our industry’s people is fundamental to who we are as a company.”

Shawn Osborne, chief executive officer of Two Ten Footwear Foundation, added that he is “deeply grateful” to Worden and the Shoe Station Group Foundation for this “transformative” commitment.

“This generous gift will directly impact footwear employees and their families, helping them recover from disaster, pursue higher education, and build stronger futures,” Osborne said.

And Joe Preston, chief executive officer of New Balance and board chair of Two Ten Footwear Foundation, noted that it’s “always meaningful when leaders step up” to support the people who drive the industry forward.

“Mark and his team exemplify the generosity of our footwear community and their investment in the wellbeing of footwear employees and their families makes us all proud,” Preston said. “Acts of philanthropy like this not only make it possible for Two Ten to have real impact but demonstrate the kind of leadership and collaboration that make our industry thrive.”

Two Ten Footwear Foundation serves the nation’s 330,000 footwear employees through financial assistance, scholarships, professional development, and community programs. In its most recent fiscal year, Two Ten provided over $1.1 million in disaster relief to footwear families recovering from crises, including rapid response support following hurricane Helene, which impacted footwear employees across the Southeast.