From the Spokesman-Review:
The six young artists made the most of their walkable canvases -- vibrant designs and bright colors befitting a limited-edition line.
But the designers behind the Nike shoe collection being released today are patients whose creations will raise money for Doernbecher Children's Hospital. On Friday, the company presented a showing at its headquarters near Beaverton.
It was a both a joyful and heart-wrenching occasion. Michael Doherty, Nike's global creative director and founder of the Doernbecher Freestyle program, which has raised about $2 million for the Portland hospital, stood with the children in a room packed with dozens of company designers and managers. He proudly called it "one of the best programs at Nike."
Then it was time for Anna Finley, an 11-year-old from Salem, to talk about the brightly colored shoe she'd designed, the Air Max Zenyth.
"This shoe is based on hope and happiness," the blond girl with Hemolytic-uremic syndrome, a kidney disease, told the crowd. As she spoke of her dream to become a gymnast, she began to weep, prompting Doherty to rush to her side and put an arm around her.
"These are some brave people here," he said.
$290,000 raised at auction
The six shoes were unveiled Sept. 19 at a $100-a-head cocktail party and auction at Wieden+Kennedy's headquarters in Portland's Pearl District. About $290,000 was raised that night.
This year's shoes, which run from $88 to $165 a pair, will go on sale today at the 12 Nike stores in the United States and online at Nike.com. Retail sales of last year's line netted $458,900 for the hospital.
The designers are nominated each January by child therapists and other staff at Doernbecher. In the spring, the children head to the Nike campus where they meet their design mentors, brainstorm ideas and begin sketching designs.
"Just to be able to be in this complex was very cool," Anna said before Friday's event.
Designers love the program
Nike designers say they love the program. Matt Holmes, the design director who supervises 18 teams at the sporting apparel maker, says working with Anna was the single best experience of his 12 years at Nike.
This year's collection includes a blue high-top covered with brightly colored basketballs, the Nike Skinny Dunk High. "Basketball is my life," explained designer Makayla Hansen, a 12-year-old from Elgin with Alagille syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects the liver.
For the Air Force I Low, 11-year-old Bradley Bowlby of Stevenson, Wash., emphasized stitching to represent both those on a baseball and the ones on his chest following heart surgery. The elk in the design speaks to his love of hunting, the spoon and fork to his dream of becoming a chef.
"We think this program is great," said Mike MacRae, communications manager for the Doernbecher Foundation. "Not only does it raise a lot of money, but it's a lot of fun for the kids."
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