There are plenty of designers who are interested in ethical ideals or charity collaborations, but few take their dedication further than TOMS Shoes. For every purchase of TOMS footwear, the company donates a pair to a poor child who needs them. Bonus karma points: It delivers the shoes personally instead of consigning the honor to a partnering NGO or just simply writing a check.

TOMS Shoes founder Blake Mycoskie traveled to South Africa last year to deliver 50,000 shoes to poor children. (Courtesy of FriendsOfTOMS.org)

TOMS got its start from Blake Mycoskie, a self-styled entrepreneur whose résumé includes an appearance on Amazing Race: Season Two and launching a laundry service during his college days. During a polo-playing trip to Argentina, he saw how many young children there went without shoes and made a pledge to find a way to give them such a simple comfort.

In May 2006, Mr. Mycoskie founded TOMS Shoes with a mission: For every pair of shoes he sold, he would donate a pair to a child in need. In the first year, he gave away 10,000 shoes; in the years since, he’s tallied up more than 130,000 in donated footwear.

Mr. Mycoskie is definitely a man on the go. In addition to his around-the-world travels, he speaks out about the need to alleviate global poverty through regular speaking engagements. This month he visited the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service to discuss his business model and social entrepreneurship. He also asked student artists to customize their own pairs of TOMS. (See the photos from the event here.)

Even the plainest shoes in his collection stand out. Fashioned like a modern pair of Keds, the brightly colored canvas slip-ons feature a rubber sole and leather footbed (although some vegan options have recently become available). The shoes and some pairs of boots are available in all sizes for men, women, and children.

Right now, TOMS is offering a deal to consumers interested in the company’s mission and wares. If you purchase the DVD For Tomorrow: The TOMS Shoes Story, you also receive a gift certificate for $49.50, redeemable online. The credit is enough to buy almost any pair of TOMS on the site, and shipping is free.

We selected a pair in cherry red canvas. They are a bit odd looking, almost like an elfin slipper, but wear them once and you’re hooked. The footbed molds to the contours of your arch and requires virtually zero minutes of breaking in. They are true to size and come in dozens of colors and patterns — from tie dye to polka dots to madras. And at only $44 to $68 a pop, they won’t put a hole in your wallet any larger than those trusty Keds would.

TOMS currently manufactures its shoes in factories in China and Argentina and soon expects to open factories in Brazil and Ethiopia. While Chinese manufacturing may raise a red flag for some ethical shoppers, the company reports that it requires factories to adhere to strict labor standards and pay fair wages. Each factory is periodically audited by a third-party inspector.

Finally, volunteers are instrumental in facilitating the yearly shoe drops. Right now there are scheduled weeklong trips to Argentina from March 28 to April 4 and April 18-25. If you’re interested in traveling the world on a philanthropic missions with the company or simply sponsoring its work, contact Friends of TOMS to find out how you can help.