New York, NY -- On October 24, 2008 at 9:30 am, Nina Footwear Corp and the Blessings in a Backpack organization proudly welcome Ms. Hilary Duff to P.S. 15, the Roberto Clemente Elementary School, located in New York City's East Village for a morning of singing, sharing and backpacks!!  The event spotlights New York City's first Blessings in a Backpack program and highlights the partnership among Nina Footwear, Blessings in a Backpack and the New York City school system.  Blessings in a Backpack is a charity quite dear to Ms. Duff, as she personally sponsors a program consisting of more than 1100 student in the Los Angeles area.  Dayana Mendoza, Miss Universe 2008 and Crystle Stewart, Miss USA 2008 will join Ms. Duff at the event.

Last spring Nina employees went back to school, literally, as they packed food and snacks in backpacks for the students to take home for the weekend. The program was such a success that Nina continued its sponsorship of the program for the new school year. "The children of P.S. 15 and their families are extremely appreciative of the extra help during the school year that Nina and Blessings in a Backpack program provides," said Guinevere Ellsworth, Program Coordinator for Grand Street Settlement's Project COOL after school program at P.S. 15.  "The program helps many of our families get through the weekend.  We have also seen an improvement in Monday attendance at the school after the beginning of the program."

"When we moved downtown from our previous location on Fifth Avenue and 57th Street to Union Square, I wanted Nina to contribute to our new neighborhood and make a difference," says Scott Silverstein, CEO of Nina Footwear.  "Choosing a charity partnership that also encouraged our employees to get involved was essential.  Blessings in a Backpack fulfills that need beautifully."

BECAUSE HUNGER DOESN'T TAKE A BREAK ON WEEKENDS...

Blessings in a Backpack has been founded as a non-profit organization, designed to meet the nutritional needs of children and families over weekends. Every Friday afternoon volunteers, in cooperation with a designated elementary school and grocery store, fill the backpacks of selected students with non-perishable food items purchased by a corporation or concerned citizens. The program is limited only to those students utilizing the Free and Reduced Lunch Program. Blessings in a Backpack, celebrating its third full year of operation outside its home base in Louisville, Kentucky, has been initiated through the efforts of concerned citizens and entrepreneur/philanthropist and Stan Curtis and his organization, USA Harvest, Hilary Duff, Sammy Hagar and several partnering corporations.

As one of the few family-run, fashion footwear companies still thriving today, the Nina brand has been synonymous with sexy, fashion shoes for over half a century.  Nina shoes are widely available in fine department stores across the United States, including Macy's, Lord Taylor and Dillard's, as well as select independent retailers everywhere. Nina footwear is also sold in more than 20 countries worldwide. Nina is also the parent company for Delman, Nina Dolls and Nina Kids. For more information, contact Mary Robertson, Director of Publicity at (212) 399-2784 or mrobertson@ninashoes.com.