BBC International Execs on Philanthropic Commitments

For BBC International founder Bob Campbell, being charitable was nonnegotiable. “I believe in one thing: If you are successful, you’ve got to give back to the community; you’ve got to give back to the people who need it,” the industry legend told FN in May 2017, just a few years before his death in 2020.

That generosity of spirit lives on at BBC, now spearheaded by his son, corporate president Seth Campbell; and chief executive officer Josue Solano.

“Even through this roller coaster ride of ups and downs that we’ve been on [in the past few years], we’ve never wavered in our commitment to community,” said Solano. He noted that when he and Seth Campbell sat down in 2020 to formulate a new corporate structure and culture for BBC, they made certain that “community” was one of the company’s five core values.

BBC has a multitiered approach to its philanthropy commitments, making an impact locally, nationally and internationally.

For instance, Seth Campbell continues his father’s legacy by serving on the board of the , a nonprofit that aids shoe industry workers with education and emergency funds.

“BBC International has long been an important ally and advocate for Two Ten,” said Shawn Osborne, president and CEO of the foundation. “Bob Campbell was a legend, of course — not just as a visionary in the footwear business but also as a compassionate leader. And he built a culture of philanthropy at BBC International. That legacy lives on through the BBC family and his son, Seth, who shares Bob’s deep personal commitment to the mission of lifting lives in this industry.”

On a more local scale, Solano said BBC employees often participate in “community days” where the staff engages in joint volunteer activities. For instance, last month, team members assisted with setup and organization for a Shoes for a Cure event in New York, to raise funds to support breast cancer research.

“We’re very much a company still focused on philanthropy,” said Seth Campbell.

He and Solano noted that one of the company’s most impactful charitable projects is its involvement with the Iowa Brace, a device that helps children suffering from clubfoot. The brace was designed by specialists at the University of Iowa, to further support the groundbreaking treatment method developed by Dr. Ignacio Ponseti.

According to the University of Iowa, clubfoot is a congenital deformity where a newborn’s feet are twisted to point downward or inward, making it difficult to walk normally without intervention.

“Most of the clubfoot happens in [developing] countries,” said Solano. “These kids often are shunned and can’t have normal lives — and they can’t afford the normal surgical procedures to get it fixed, like families do in the United States. Dr. Ponseti and the University of Iowa worked on a [nonsurgical treatment] with braces to fix clubfoot, so kids can live a normal life. And they partnered with BBC seven years ago to design, develop and produce shoes that could connect with their medical brace to help the children. Now there are shoes with a medical device that’s affordable to everyone.”

The shoes have been used in more than 100 countries. “I think we have helped well over 100,000 children so far,” said Seth Campbell.

In additional to traditional philanthropic efforts, the company’s community focus is evident through its involvement with industry organizations including the American Apparel and Footwear Association and the Footwear Distributors and Manufacturers of America.

In fact, Solano is currently chairman of the FDRA board of directors and is a past chairman of AAFA.

FDRA president and CEO Matt Priest said, “I’m proud to call Josue and Seth friends, and I’m deeply grateful for Josue’s leadership as chairman of [our] board.”

He pointed to BBC’s founder as a continued inspiration. “Bobby’s dedication to the strength and health of our industry — and to organizations like FDRA and Two Ten — has inspired so many others to give back and support the causes that impact us all. We wouldn’t be the organization we are today without BBC — that’s for certain,” said Priest.