Portland, September 28th, 2013. Over 600 guests joined Doernbecher Children’s Hospital Foundation at the Portland Art Museum for the Doernbecher Freestyle X. The program is a collaboration between Nike and OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital that each year empowers Doernbecher patients to become more than their illness through designing their own limited edition Nike shoe. Pictured are: OHSU Foundation President Keith Todd with DA Davidson’s Kevin Director and wife Geni, Mary Turina and Pendleton Woolen Mills’ Charlie Bishop and wife Meg. Kevin and Meg both sit on the Doernbecher Foundation Board. (photo credit, Izzy Ventura and Anthony Scales)
The Doernbecher Freestyle Class of 2013 – Kira Smith, Elijah Diggins, Kate Smith, Daniel Pena, Jake Dering, Bella Stone, Ross Hathaway
Guests enjoyed a cocktail reception and silent auction where they had the chance to bid on past Doernbecher Freestyle designs before heading upstairs for the unveiling of the 2013 Doernbecher Freestyle Collection. After each of this year’s seven young designers took the stage with their Nike design team, their unique creation was auctioned off to the highest bidder. This year marked the 10th anniversary of this ground-breaking partnership that has raised nearly $8 million for the hospital. In celebration of the milestone, Nike hosted a simultaneous Freestyle event in New York City. Together the events raised over $646,000 in addition to the $1.28 million gift Nike presented Doernbecher that night from the sales of the 2012 Doernbecher Freestyle Collection.
As a special surprise, this year’s designers also had the opportunity to design their own piece of Nike apparel as well. The 2013 Doernbecher Freestyle Collection will go on sale later this year.
The Doernbecher Freestyle was the idea of Nike Creative Director of Global Brand Presentations Michael Doherty’s son, Connor and Michael has led the project since day 1. Michael (R) and his wife Daphne Cooluris pose with Doernbecher Physician-in-Chief Stacy Nicholson, M.D., M.P.H., and wife Carol.
Guests of Presenting Sponsor Stimson Lumber. From left to right – Jackie Mans, Ben Ravert, Tiffany Ravert, Kelly Atkinson and Tim Atkinson
Nike North America Footwear Product Director Lee Banks is instrumental to the Doernbecher Freestyle. Here he smiles with Mary Turina, Patricia Fisher Robertson and daughter Bella.
Doernbecher Foundation Board Member and Market of Choice’s Rick Wright poses with Doernbecher Foundation Executive Director Mary Turina and his wife Debbie.
OHSU President Joe Robertson, Jr., M.D., M.B.A gives two thumbs up to the $1.28 million gift from Nike from the sales of the 2012 Doernbecher Freestyle collection. Presenting the gift is Nike President of Geographies and Sales Elliott Hill and 2012 Freestyle designer Finnigan Mooney.
It was a full house at the Portland Art Museum for the Doernbecher Freestyle X.
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