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For the second consecutive year, every member of the Bears organization was invited to participate in the nfl's annual “My Cause My Cleats” initiative, which for nine seasons has allowed players to design and wear custom cleats to benefit a charity of their choice to support.
The Bears have once again teamed up with Sneakerhead University – an immersive exhibition and workshop in Chicago focused on the art, culture and history of sneakers – to give employees the opportunity to support a good cause and their own pair of Nike Air Force 1 to be painted for the team's next home game on December 22nd against the Lions.
With 178 employees, more than 100 causes and organizations are supported and represented.
But for six Bears employees, there was a common cause: honoring Katie Nagle.
Nagle, a longtime Bears executive assistant since 2002, died Sept. 2, leaving a void in Halas Hall that was once filled by her tremendous kindness and infectious smile.
To honor Nagle, staff Autumn Swindell, Emily Rooney, Jessica Noonan, Kate Rackow, Melissa McDermott and Chairman George H. McCaskey dedicated their sneakers to her.
“It says a lot that we are all honoring Katie because there are so many great causes to support and everyone has a personal reason,” said McDermott, a business strategist who has worked for the Bears since 2007. “I do.” Sure, everyone could think of five or ten organizations they would like to support, but I think it shows the value and unity of the Bears family that we want to honor one of our own. This is special for all of us to say, 'We're all coming together and supporting Katie.'”
Swindell, Rooney, Noonan, Rackow and McDermott have all chosen Bears Care, the nonprofit arm of the organization, as their nonprofit. Nagle had previously battled breast cancer, a disease that Bears Care combats through medical and health education programs.
“I participated in Bears Care last year for a variety of reasons,” said Swindell, an executive assistant. “I've seen people go through breast cancer in my life and obviously Katie has been through that too. Her family was asking for donations to Bears Care in Katie's name and in her honor when she died. So I immediately thought it made sense to do something for Katie while respecting her family's wishes.”
Staff represented Nagle on their shoes by writing her name and using either the Bears' traditional blue and orange or the Bears Care blue and pink color scheme from the annual “Real Bears Fans Wear Pink” campaign.
