The NFL’s My Cause My Cleats campaign continues to put the spotlight on hundreds of worthy charitable causes. And on Thursday’s matchup between the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions, Boys & Girls Club of America (and one very talented teen) had their moment to shine.
.@RomeOdunze is representing the @BGCA_Clubs with his #MyCauseMyCleats 💙 pic.twitter.com/s7yekPt5cb
— NFL (@NFL) November 28, 2024
Nicole, a 17-year-old Boys & Girls Club Atlanta Metro member, worked with Sharpie to design her winning cleats. The shoes were worn by the brand’s Rookies of the Year: Chicago Bears WR, Rome Odunze and Atlanta Falcons QB, Michael Penix Jr. Chicago-based Dillon DeJesus (of DeJesus Custom Footwear) and Miami-based Marcus Rivero (@solesbysir) brought Odunze’s and Penix’s cleats to life in support of the youth organization, using Sharpie products.
Cleat Design Process
The Boys & Girls Club of America hosted a drawing contest in Atlanta and Chicago (the home bases for the brand’s respective Rookies of the Year). The top design would be featured on the athletes’ cleats. The theme for the artwork submission was “My Club, My Community,” and members were tasked with illustrating the meaning of community and its impact on everyday life.
The winning submission was created by 17-year-old Boys & Girls Club Atlanta Metro member, Nicole, who sketched and drew her design in Sharpie’s S-Gel pens and Creative Markers. Then, shoe designers Dillon DeJesus and Marcus Rivero used Sharpie’s Creative Markers to bring Nicole’s design to life. Nicole’s design includes activities found at the club, including a cheerleading Pom Pom as the letter ‘O’ and a Judo/martial arts belt in the second ‘M’.
Boys & Girls Club of America Support
Sharpie athletes Rome Odunze and Michael Penix, Jr. both chose Boys & Girls Club of America as their My Cause My Cleats charitable organization, striving to support youth development and encourage creative expression among children. Boys & Girls Club is a particularly special organization for Penix, who was a clubgoer as a child. As part of its “Let’s Get Creative” campaign, Sharpie (together with its sister company, Paper Mate) announced a three-year $1 million partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
