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‘MyCleatsMyCause’: Youngsters support nonprofits through custom-designed footwear

By Harry Funk staff Writer hfunk@thealmanac.Net 4 min read
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Dakota Hicks shows off her cleats supporting Make-A-Wish America.

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Coach Hank Hanasik has different cleats for each of his causes, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

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Becca Davis shows her cleats supporting the National MS Society.

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Coach Greg Carlson and daughter Leah support the American Heart Association.

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Coach Bob Majewski, who is retiring from the Air Force on May 14 after serving for 21 years, supports the It’s About the Warrior Foundation. The goal of the foundation is to assist and empower post-9/11 veterans from the tri-state area.

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Becca Davis supports the National MS Society.

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Haylie Majewski's cause is the African Wildlife Foundation.

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Savannah Smith supports the Alzheimer’s Association.

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One of the players is supporting both the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation.

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Savannah McClean is supporting the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

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Coach Jeff Eich supports UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

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Elizabeth Hanasik supports Girls On the Run, a nonprofit program that works to encourage the development of self-respect and healthy lifestyles in preteen girls through dynamic, interactive lessons as well as through running games, all of which culminates in a celebratory five-kilometer run.

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Anna Duguid supports Horses With Hope, a therapeutic riding center in Bethel Park.

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Haley Eich supoprts the Lymphoma Research Foundation.

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Dakota Hicks supports Make-A-Wish America.

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Emily McClean is supporting the V Foundation, which seeks a cure for cancer in memory of college basketball coach Jim Valvano: "He taught me to never give up."

Comparisons to Christmas were inevitable as members of a regional girls softball team opened gift-wrapped shoebox after shoebox, to exclamations of “wow,” “cool” and ‘thank you!”

Or as Leah Carlson said when her dad, an assistant coach, opened his:

“These are huge!”

Greg Carlson joined in the chorus of chuckles from everyone who was tuned in to the April 16 videoconference unveiling of custom-designed footwear for players and coaches of a 12-and-under team in the Pittsburgh Power fast-pitch softball organization.

They are embarking on a philanthropic project, MyCleatsMyCause, through which they have chosen fundraising beneficiaries represented by their shoes. During softball season, when it is able to start, they will collect pledges to donate to their causes.

Scott Township artist Garrett Hain met with team members – including head coach Hank Hanasik – to learn about their causes and decorate cleats for each accordingly.

The presentation event was supposed to take place earlier in April at the Roberto Clemente Museum in Lawrenceville, but COVID-19 forced a change in plans.

Mt. Lebanon resident Ronald Davis – whose daughter Becca plays for the Hanasik team – arranged for the live stream of the unwrapping, which proceeded without a hitch. He also worked with Coach Hank on lining up partners for the project, including State Farm Insurance agent Lindsay Brown, who purchased the cleats.

“When I talked to her about this idea, and if she would sponsor cleats for the girls, she was very excited and enthusiastic about being able to help,” Davis said. “And so this whole project started with her generosity, and we’re grateful for that.”

Brown, whose agency is in Mt. Lebanon, took part in the videoconference.

“I wish you all the best in making it a success,” she told the team members. “I know we’re in some pretty uncertain times, but be proud of the work that you’re doing – you’re doing great things for other people – and just focus on that for now.”

Also joining the proceedings was Robyn Vittek, Mt. Lebanon Public Library director and past president of the Dormont-Mt. Lebanon-Castle Shannon Rotary Club, which underwrote the artist.

“Our rotary club is committed to providing funds and civic services to our communities. Right now, with everything going on in the world, that’s very difficult for us,” she said. “So we have to thank you for giving us this opportunity to connect with people and reach out, and still be a part of things.”

Warren Pirring, Pittsburgh Power president, spoke about a particular facet of the Marshall Township-based nonprofit organization.

“We always like to give back to the community. We always ask our girls and our teams to do that,” he said. “This is something unique, and I’m honored to be part of this.”

He also requested a pair of cleats that all the players can sign, to be displayed as part of the Power’s Wall of Fame.

Along with the other contributors, Banksville Express Printing agreed to produce a MyCleatsMyCause banner that will be used at each game to help spread the word.

The causes selected by the players and coaches – the other two who assist Hanasik are Jeff Eich and Bob Majewski – cover a variety of areas of need, many health-related.

And many of those are family-related, such as Leah and Greg Carlson both supporting the American Heart Association because of cardiac issues among some of their relatives.

“Heart disease is the No. 1 killer in America, so I thought it was something worthwhile to go after,” Greg said.

Coach Hank chose two causes, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Regarding the latter, he said his intention is to help create awareness “for everybody to realize and understand that it’s OK to just listen.

“You don’t always have to give advice, but let people know you love them, you care about them, especially now, during this situation,” he said about COVID-19. “Send the love out there.”

During the videoconference, he certainly sent the love for his players:

“They are absolutely amazing: everything they do, the effort and the energy that they put into not only their practices and their schoolwork, but their activities like this outside of the field. I couldn’t be more proud of everything that they do.”

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/mycleatsmycause12u.

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