Buddy Teaster

BUDDY TEASTER is the president and CEO of Soles4Souls, a global nonprofit that turns shoes and clothing into opportunities for people in need. A passionate leader and advocate, Buddy has guided the organization to distribute more than 107 million pairs of shoes and garments across 140 countries, supporting communities through both immediate aid and sustainable microenterprise programs.

A dynamic thought leader, speaker, and author of Shoestrings: How Your Donated Shoes and Clothes Help People Pull Themselves Out of Poverty, Buddy has been recognized as a YPO Global Impact Award Finalist and was included in the Footwear News 2019 Power List. His innovative approach has transformed Soles4Souls into a movement that blends philanthropy with sustainable development, earning the organization recognition as one of The Nonprofit Times’s “Best Non-profits to Work For” three years in a row.

In his free time, Buddy enjoys endurance sports, storytelling, and spending time with his family.