Nike has officially announced plans to donate over 30,000 pairs of sneakers to healthcare workers helping to combat the Coronavirus pandemic. The shoes in question are the brand’s 2019 Air Zoom Pulse sneakers. These shoes were created specifically with the needs of doctors, nurses, and other hospital workers in mind.
The sneakers themselves feature a cushioning traction system that was designed specifically with hospital floors in mind. The shoes were released last year after prototypes were tested at Oregon Health & Science University and Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland, Oregon.
The new shoes are not the only donation the company plans to make. Jorge Casimiro, Nike chief social & community impact officer stated, “We’re announcing the donation of Air Zoom Pulse and other products, totaling more than $5.5 million, to healthcare athletes across the United States and Europe.” In total, the company plans to donate over 140,000 pairs of shoes and millions of dollars toward Covid-19 relief programs. In total, the company plans to donate over 25 million dollars toward fighting the global pandemic.
This was revealed shortly after Nike announced plans to collaborate with the nonprofit organization Good360, as well as famous Nike sponsored athletes such as WNBA player Sabrina Ionescu, Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies, and LA Dodgers baseball star Joc Pederson.
“When I think about our healthcare athletes, I think about how they’re all fighting for something bigger than themselves right now,” said Ionescu. “That kind of strength and courage speaks volumes, and inspires us all.”
