Big Brothers Big Sisters to Benefit from NIKE Employee ‘Just Jordan’ Black History Month eBay Sale

Philadelphia, PA (February 22, 2013) – Philadelphia-based Big Brothers Big Sisters of America will receive proceeds from a unique Black History Month auction created and managed by the NIKE Black Employee and Friends Network. The “Just Jordan” auction is a celebration of the conclusion of NIKE Inc’s Black History Month Celebration.

The limited “Just Jordan” Black History Month packs represent the Jordan Brand in collaboration with celebrity designer Don C, owner of RSVP Gallery and Just Don. The auction packs include 37 exclusive pairs of Air Jordan 1 sneakers and signature NIKE Black History Month Just Don® Snapback hats.

The collection is available to consumers via eBay through the website, www.JustJordanBHM.com. The auction began February 21 at 5 pm Pacific Standard Time and continues until the conclusion of Black History Month on February 28 at 5 pm Pacific Standard Time.

As a bold designer and stylist, Don C launched Just Don® in 2011 and is recognized in the reinvention of the snapback look by using Python and genuine leather brims. Debuting in 1985, the original Air Jordan 1 set a new standard for performance and style. Michael Jordan simultaneously broke league rules and his opponents’ will while capturing the imagination of fans worldwide. Ever evolving, ever at the pinnacle of imagination, the Air Jordan 1 represents the ultimate truth in basketball footwear.

Earlier in the month, NIKE Inc. honored Black History Month 2013 with limited NIKE and Jordan “Be Bold. Be True.” product collections. Proceeds from sales of the line will go to agencies in select Big Brothers Big Sisters communities, including Chicago, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Memphis, New York and Portland.

The passionate NIKE employees support Big Brothers Big Sisters as volunteer mentors, donors and volunteer recruiters. They selected the national mentoring organization as its partner after learning that children waiting for “Bigs” are disproportionately African-American boys. Nearly 25 percent of NIKE employee Big Brothers Big Sisters mentors are black men. The employee group’s support for Big Brothers Big Sisters includes an annual Day of Service and the Iconic Sneaker Ball.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters

Big Brothers Big Sisters, the nation’s largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring network, holds itself accountable for children in its program to achieve measurable outcomes, such as educational success; avoidance of risky behaviors; and higher aspirations, greater confidence and better relationships. Partnering with parents/guardians, schools, corporations and others in the community, Big Brothers Big Sisters carefully pairs children (“Littles”) with screened volunteer mentors (“Bigs”) and monitors and supports these one-to-one mentoring matches throughout their course. The first-ever Big Brothers Big Sisters Youth Outcomes Summary, released in 2012, substantiates that its mentoring programs have proven, positive academic, socio-emotional and behavioral outcomes for youth, areas linked to high school graduation, avoidance of juvenile delinquency and college or job readiness.

Big Brothers Big Sisters provides children facing adversity, often those of single or low-income households or families where a parent is incarcerated or serving in the military, with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. This mission has been the cornerstone of the organization’s 100-year history. With about 350 agencies across the country, Big Brothers Big Sisters serves nearly 630,000 children, volunteers and families. The organization is engaged in a nationwide search to reunite with alumni mentors, mentees, donors, and family, staff and board members. Learn more at BigBrothersBigSisters.org