Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are joining with players across the NFL to wear custom cleats reflecting their commitment to charitable causes during this Sunday’s contest versus the Buffalo Bills at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.
The NFL announced this week that NFL players will have the chance to share the causes that are important to them during all Week 13 games, as part of the NFL’s My Cause, My Cleats campaign. The initiative is a culmination of 18 months of collaborative work between the NFL and players across the league, and includes an online storytelling platform, in partnership with The Players’ Tribune.
The Raiders are taking it one step further and involving the entire organization. In support of the My Cause, My Cleats program, Owner Mark Davis will join with more than 20 players to support the charitable cause that is important to them by wearing personalized cleats during the game on Sunday against the Bills.
“The Raiders are excited to offer support to the My Cause, My Cleats campaign and for the entire organization to have the opportunity to show support and appreciation for all of the causes that will be showcased on Sunday,” said Raiders President Marc Badain.
Raiders Owner Mark Davis will wear purple shoes to help bring attention to Domestic Violence Awareness and the great work being done by Raiders Alum and Pro Football Hall of Famer Fred Biletnikoff through the Biletnikoff Foundation.
Defensive Khalil Mack will use his cleats to promote awareness for Lupus while quarterback Derek Carr’s cleats will bring attention to Neonatal Care. Tackle Donald Penn and linebacker Malcolm Smith’s cleats are designed to assisting Underprivileged Youth while linebacker Bruce Irvin and guard Kelechi Osemele will don cleats to bring focus to the topic of Mental Health. Wide receiver Seth Roberts, defensive tackle Dan Williams and tight end Clive Walford will wear cleats that bring attention to fighting Diabetes.
The entire Raiders front office and game day staff—will have the opportunity to wear cause-related, colored shoes in support for the My Cause, My Cleats campaign, and participate in an on-field moment during the performance of the National Anthem just prior to kickoff this Sunday.
In addition, the Raiderettes will show support for a member who is battling Diabetes by wearing gray sneakers for pregame warm-ups. For the halftime show, parachute jumpers will wear purple sneakers, and if they land on their on-field target, a donation will be made to the Biletnikoff Foundation and the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
According to the NFL, more than 500 players across the league are planning to showcase their causes on-field, and many have worked directly with Nike, Under Armour and Adidas to design their cleats, which will arrive in locker rooms this week, and will be worn on-field for all Week 13 games.
The league also announced that this week players started sharing images of their cleats and the stories behind them on social media, using the hashtag #mycausemycleats. In addition, the NFL announced this week that players will have the opportunity to raise funds for the cause of their choosing by auctioning their cleats off at NFL Auction; 100% of funds raised will be donated to charities selected by players—all designated charities must have 501c3 status.
To learn more about the NFL My Cause, My Cleats campaign, as well as a list of players and their cleats/causes visit <www.nfl.com/mycausemycleats>.
