Before you go and think this is a made-up title to draw in views for some controversial topic or the likes, that’s simply not the case. Instead, the article aims to showcase how entrenched the sneakers and the sneaker market has become of late, so much so that it has, in fact, helped raise funds for relief aid to hurricane ravaged areas in the U.S.
There have been a large number of ways in which funds could be raised to assist the relief effort after regions of the US, mainly Texas and Florida, were hit by hurricanes in quick succession in September. Celebrities came on board, in the days that followed, by donating rare sneakers to the cause. The sneakers were donated as an entry to a competition for an amount (starting $10 for a single ticket) accepted for an entry to a competition to win a pair of rare sneakers by means of the StockX store (‘stock market of things’). The store partnered with celebrities, which would also see them matching sales for these entries, to a specific amount. The list of celebrities and rare sneakers were quite spectacular, with all proceeds raised going to Greater Houston Community Foundation Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund (GHCF) and Team Rubicon in support of the Hurricane Harvey and Irma relief efforts.
The list included the following:
1. Eminem donated: Air Jordan 4 Eminem x Carhartt, box signed
2. Pharrell donated: Adidas Pharrell HU NMD Pink (Friends & Family)
3. LeBron James donated: LeBron 9 “Watch The Throne”
4. Mark Wahlberg donated: Jordan Formula 23 “Wahlburgers PE,” box signed
5. Karlie Kloss donated: Adidas Futurecraft 4D, 073/300
6. Virgil Abloh donated: Nike Blazer Mid x Off-White, The Ten
7. Snoop Dogg donated: Adidas Originals Superstar “Bush” with box (Friends & Family)
8. 2 Chainz donated: Ewing Athletics 33 Hi “2 Chainz,” unreleased PE colorway, signed
9. Russell Wilson donated: Nike Alpha Menace cleats, signed
10. Steph Curry donated: Under Armour Curry 3 Low “Obamas,” with display case
11. Steve Aoki donated: Two pairs of Adidas worn during his 2016 Summer Tour, signed
12. Don C donated: Air Jordan 2 Just Don “Beach” set, with hat and pin, box signed
13. Jon Buscemi donated: Air Jordan 10 Yellow Deerskin sample
14. Gary Vaynerchuk donated: K-Swiss Classic 88 Horween Leather, signed
15. Emily Oberg donated: Adidas NMD “Pitch Black” Friends & Family
16. Stadium Goods donated: Air Jordan “Do The Right Thing” pack, signed by Spike Lee
17. DJ Skee donated: Nike Air Max 90 Vikings Edition, signed by Stefon Diggs, Harrison Smith, Brian Robinson, Jeremiah Sirles, Jarius Wright, Jerrick Mckinnon and Kyle Rudolph of the Minnesota Vikings
Entries, however, were limited to those in the US, who could enter by donating at the official website. A total of $147,310 was raised from direct sales of entries at the end of the competition, ending 25th September 2017.
Source: StockX
