Nike Air Force 1
Doernbecher Freestyle "Oli"
Footwear Color DesignÂ
Footwear Color Design: Heather Truong
Footwear Graphic Design: Eileen Happer
Material Design: Shakira Best
Footwear Developer: Connor Taggart
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Doernbecher Freestyle is a unique partnership between NIKE, Inc. and Oregon Health & Science University Doernbecher Children’s Hospital that has raised more than $44 million since its inception in 2004.
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Each year, the program provides six Doernbecher patients the opportunity to create inspiring footwear designs that are auctioned and sold to benefit the hospital as a signature fundraiser.
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All profits help fund the cost of care for families in need, support specialized treatment unavailable elsewhere in the region, and expand pioneering research that helps benefit kids around the world.
Nike employee volunteers, who have numbered more than 350 over the years, review patient questionnaires and evolve their designs through multiple rounds of color and material feedback. The kids’ imaginations spark outside-the-box thinking that inspires the Nike design team to tell their stories in new, creative ways.
The collaboration reflects the partners’ shared commitment to helping kids reach their greatest potential — in sport and in life — with Nike powering a future of youth sport that invites all kids to play and Doernbecher providing life-saving care to help patients thrive.
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Across the night OHSUF raised $1.9M from auction packages and paddle raise donors, when added with Nike and city specialty partners contributions bringing the total raised from Doernbecher Freestyle over the past 21 years to over $44M!
Color Research
Oli's Drawing
With Doernbecher, many patient designers usually take the opportunity to go wild with colors and execution; Oli took it a different way. He was very specific about not loving flashy colors.
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Oli wants to be a chef when he grows up and loves cooking. We took Oli through an activity through Zoom to "build his dream kitchen" and asked questions about what color apron he would want, what kind of utensils, what colors are the pots and pans. What he didn't realize was that this activity would lead to the fullest expression of his shoe.
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Oli loves olive green and loves painting rainbows for his closest friends. The outsole is a rainbow gum sole where a heavy understanding of color theory was used. Â
The Auction
Nike SB partnered with the Ascend Southeast Asia Network to bring Solar New Year to PHK Campus and the Nike LA Office through community moments and a special skate event with dance performances, activities, food, and special guest Eric Koston.Â
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The kickoff of the event planning began in January 2026 where all Nike SB teammates and the Ascend Network Community volunteers came together. Everyone was broken up into teams: Skate Ramp, Photo Op & Decor, Entertainment, & Table Activities. Thai food was catered by local restaurant to support small SEA businesses.