Doernbecher Freestyle is a unique partnership between NIKE, Inc. and Oregon Health and Sciences University (OHSU) Doernbecher Children's Hospital that began in 2004 and has raised nearly $37 million for the hospital since its inception. Each year, the programme gives six OHSU Doernbecher patients the opportunity to create inspiring Nike footwear, apparel and equipment designs that are auctioned and sold to benefit the hospital as a signature fundraiser. Created with a team of Nike product experts volunteering their time and expertise, each patient's collection items are adorned with intricate details, hidden messages and unexpected colour palettes to represent their individual passions, life experiences, medical journeys and relationships.
Doernbecher Freestyle is important to the culture of both Nike and OHSU Doernbecher, allowing doctors, nurses, hospital employees, sneaker and apparel designers and developers, and community members alike to come together to make a difference in the lives of Doernbecher Freestyle patient-designers, their families and the hospital community. One hundred percent of the profits from retail sales of the Doernbecher Freestyle programme are donated to the Oregon Health Sciences University Foundation benefiting Doernbecher Children's Hospital.
The Doernbecher Freestyle XIX Collection features six silhouettes from six amazing Doernbecher patient-designers: an Air Jordan III, a Nike Dunk High, a Nike Go FlyEase, a Nike ACG Mountain Fly 2 Low, a Nike Cortez and a Nike Air Max 1 '86. The silhouettes will be released in December.
Update, 1 November 2023: the updated amount raised after calculating Doernbecher Freestyle XVIII profits totals nearly $37 million.