The designers for this year’s Doernbecher Freestyle collection have been briefly introduced by the hospital and Nike. Stay tuned for additional info on this year’s collection and designs. For those that aren’t familiar with the program, background info can be seen below.
Save the date for the 9th annual Doernbecher Freestyle to be held Saturday, October 27, 2012 at the Portland Art Museum. This year, six more Doernbecher patients will let their personalities shine as they dive into colors, textures and materials to create a shoe as unique as their story.
Tickets will be available for purchase online in early fall.
Chad, 15, concentrates on making sure his design is perfect.
Autumn, 10, is all smiles before she explores the materials library at NIKE.
Grant, 10, having fun brainstorming ideas for his shoe.
Kylie, 16, enjoying the design process at the NIKE campus.
Finn, 10, and older brother Brogan make designing a shoe a team effort.
Oswaldo, 10, selects the perfect colors for his shoe.
About Doernbecher Freestyle:
Doernbecher Freestyle was created in 2004 when Michael Doherty, Nike’s Creative Director of Global Brand Presentations and Doernbecher Foundation board member, was talking to his son, Connor, about ways to raise money for the Hospital. Connor had the idea of having Nike create shoes and sell them to raise funds. Michael then invited one of Nike’s shoe designers to take a tour of the hospital to inspire him to design a pair of shoes for Doernbecher. It was designer Marcus Tayui’s vision to see patients design the shoes with the proceeds benefiting the hospital that in many cases has saved their lives.
An annual launch party is held every fall to unveil the newest Freestyle collection designed by Doernbecher patients. More than 400 business and community leaders come together to see the shoes, bid on limited pairs and meet the patients/designers in person. After the shoes have been unveiled, they go on sale to the general public with the proceeds going to the hospital.
Now in its ninth year, this extraordinary program has raised over $4 million for the hospital, which uses the funds for everything from clinical programs and hospital construction to providing care for uninsured children. This year’s patient designers come from Doernbecher’s cancer, neurosurgery, cardiac surgery and nephrology programs.
For event details and program information, please contact Ashley Schmidt at 503-412-6351 or e-mail schmidas@ohsu.edu; or contact Allie Reynolds at 503-220-8343 or e-mail reynolal@ohsu.edu.