Nike Corporation Shows Community Kindness
By Tracy Rolling

Nike team members are energized as they pass out shoes and apparel to RUSD families who lost everything in the Witch Creek fire.Photo by Tracy Rolling

Aphone call to Ramona Unified Superintendent Peter Schiff from Nike's regional office in Carlsbad has resulted in new shoes and clothes for students and their families who lost their homes in the Witch Creek fire.

Schiff and district officials assisted Nike in organizing a one-day giveaway, which was held last month at Olive Peirce Middle School.

The district was able to identify students and the number of family members per household who would be eligible for the donations in addition to estimating their sizes and gender.

Trucks flooded the Performing Arts Center with Nike merchandize while community volunteers alongside Nike employees fitted RUSD students, staff members and their families with an assortment of sneakers.

Nike Corporate Responsibility Manager Monica Garrett oversaw the distribution.

When asked what inspired Nike to donate so much inventory Garrett said: "We saw the need. With warehouses and outlets around the community, our employees live here, work here, play here, and we had to do something."

Working with the governor's office of Emergency Services, Nike was able to identify the Southern California communities that were hardest hit.

"Included was Ramona," said Garrett, who called the experience emotional and inspiring. She added that Nike is committed to donating a million dollars to the Southern California fire recovery.

Garrett estimates company reps handed out as many as 500 pairs of shoes and hundreds of bags of clothes. Included were Nike sweatpants, shirts, hats and socks.

Products that were not distributed were left for the district to sort through with the understanding that remaining merchandize would be donated to the Ramona Food and Clothes Closet.

"Mr. Schiff and his entire team have been excellent collaborative partners," Garrett said.

"Meeting the people from Ramona, hearing their stories, witnessing their strength, has made all of us appreciate supporting this community," she added."