Goodbye Grinch

SOLE TECHNOLOGY

Don Brown at Sole Technology has always been a big fan of celebrating his employees, well, and celebrating in general.

“Don Brown is at the helm working with a team and as you know, Don knows how to have fun,” said Anika Ramirez in public relations. This year, the brand hosts a party at its own HQ, complete with drinks, food, games and plenty of shenanigans.

Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive

Etnies’ biggest tradition they have had for the last eight years is its annual holiday festival and shoe donation at the etnies Skatepark of Lake Forest.

The event benefits local underprivileged children in domestic violence shelters, abuse prevention centers, in foster care situations and in low income after school programs.

Santa and Mrs. Claus come out to take photos with the kids, Santa skates around the park, and a variety of etnies pro riders also come out to skate, pass out shoes and hang out with the kids. Since the event started, etnies has donated more than 3,700 pairs of shoes. This year, over 600 kids came out to the event and all received brand new kicks.

"I believe a life is defined not by what you accomplish in life, but by what you give,” said Sole Tech Owner and CEO Pierre-Andre Senizergues. “I'm proud that for eight years Sole Technology has been celebrating the holidays together by giving back to needy children in our area as we also acknowledge the anniversary of the etnies Skatepark of Lake Forest."

For a video of the event, click here.

686 

686 Founder Mike West with the Scion Partner car.

According to Kristen Cusic of 686, the brand has been celebrating the holidays and its 20th anniversary of 686 as a brand all month. Besides parties for the launch of their Scion Partner car, the brand held its 19th Annual Black and White Holiday Party with its entire global team a few weeks ago.

On December 9th, the company donated over 400 jackets to needy families and homeless youth across the country for their first annual “Reclaim Project Donation Day.” According to Kristen, the 686 crew in Southern California went to the La Youth Network and Homeboy Industries, where they spent the day meeting people from all walks of life who were in need of a winter coat.

The company’s eight U.S. reps also chose a charity of their choice to donate 40 jackets in their territory. Lastly, the brand also gave hundreds of jackets away to SOS, Stoked Mentoring and the Big Sky Youth Empowerment group.

QUIKSILVER

Quiksilver hosted a holiday party December 7th at the House of Blues in Downtown Disney for Quiksilver, Roxy and DC Shoes. “It was really great to ring in the holidays with all the employees gathered together to celebrate a banner year for Quiksilver,” said Iris Yen, VP of Communications for Quiksilver.

Roxy's Clothes4Souls campaign

Additionally, to give back, Roxy ran a Clothes4Souls campaign with Olympic Snowboarder Torah Bright. The campaign kicked off in NYC on Dec 2nd with a visit to The Today Show.

Roxy and Quiksilver coordinated donation boxes throughout NYC where any consumer who donated any article of gently used clothing was given 40% off any Roxy denim. Torah Bright, fronted the campaign to bring awareness of how important sweaters and jackets are to those who may not be able to afford them. The campaign will continue through Dec 23rd.

Quiksilver also participated with the Make-A-Wish campaign this year by gifting a child with a personal shopping experience at Quiksilver.

The La Jolla Group

Vicki Redding (in red sweater) and helper elves.

The La Jolla Group hosted its annual holiday party as well as its 2nd annual Holiday Give Back event, a new tradition where the LJ Group has helped over 200 kids from charities like The San Gabriel Children’s Center, The Christmas Hope Project for the Healing World, and OrangeWood Children’s Center.

"There was an incredible outpouring of generosity this year from everyone at LJG,” said Toby Bost. “It started out small and snowballed into a huge give back event. It's awesome to see everyone come together to make the holidays brighter for kids in need. Our employees and executives are an amazing group and we all really enjoyed working with such wonderful children's organizations."

In addition to donations from LJG staffers, Vicki Redding (SVP of Design and Merchandising) was able to gather shoes, hoodies, and backpacks from her industry colleagues, to offer extra support to teenage boys at the Orangewood Children’s Center.

"We committed to helping 18 boys that were age 14 and I couldn’t have done it without the help from Quiksilver, Sanuk, and Troy Lee," Vicki said. "They were amazing and really stepped up donating duffel bags and shoes! There are so many kids in need in our own back yard and it is amazing the generosity of the Action Sports brands to give back in our own community."

LJG also collected items for local pets in need, and donated them to the Orange County Humane Society.

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