Congressman DeFazio and Nike Make Shoe, Apparel, and Equipment Donation to Glide High School | Print |

EUGENE, OR – On Thursday, October 9, 2008, U.S. Congressman Peter DeFazio will visit Glide High School to present a donation of Nike shoe, apparel and athletic equipment to the student body. The donation is the result of DeFazio’s office winning this year’s Capitol Hill Reuse-A-Shoe Challenge.

EUGENE, OR – On Thursday, October 9, 2008, U.S. Congressman Peter DeFazio will visit Glide High School to present a donation of Nike shoe, apparel and athletic equipment to the student body. The donation is the result of DeFazio’s office winning this year’s Capitol Hill Reuse-A-Shoe Challenge.

The Challenge, held annually and sponsored by Nike and the National Recycling Coalition, is a competition amongst the Oregon House delegation to collect as many worn-out athletic shoes as possible. These shoes are recycled and used by leading sports and playground surfacing companies in the creation of new sports and play surfaces around the world.

Congressman Peter DeFazio won for the second year running, smashing last year’s record total of 689 with an astounding 1197 pairs this year. Congressman DeFazio receives a product donation from Nike and this year has chosen Glide High School because the school and some of its athletic equipment were damaged in a fire this summer.


"I would like to thank Nike and the National Recycling Coalition for organizing this fantastic program again this year," DeFazio said.  "Everyone in the 4th CD was inspired by the records set at the Olympic Trials in Eugene earlier this summer and that enthusiasm helped us hurdle to victory in this year’s Re-Use-a-Shoe competition.  I am especially pleased with the victory because it means we can donate shoes, apparel, and athletic equipment to Glide High School which recently suffered a fire.  This donation will be a tremendous benefit to the school, the students and the entire community."

"Reuse-A-Shoe connects our long-term commitments of developing innovative ways of eliminating waste and promoting the physical activity of young people," said Orson Porter, Deputy Director of Government Relations, Nike. "Capitol Hill has proven to be an excellent partner in our efforts to create new places for kids to play and be active. We thank the Oregon delegation for leading this effort."

Individuals interested in participating in the Nike Reuse-A-Shoe program can find a list of drop off locations on the Nike Reuse-A-Shoe Web site: www.nikereuseashoe.com.

About Nike Reuse-A-Shoe

Nike Reuse-A-Shoe is an integral part of Nike Corporate Responsibility and is a unique recycling program that turns worn-out athletic shoes of all brands into Nike Grind, a material used in sports and playground surfaces. Since its inception Reuse-A-Shoe has helped reduce millions of athletic shoes from ending up in landfills each year and has recycled more than 21 million shoes. The recycled shoes are given new life, and are reborn into sports and playground surfaces around the world. For more information on Nike Grind and Nike Reuse-A-Shoe, visit: www.nikegrind.com.

About National Recycling Coalition

Founded in 1978, the National Recycling Coalition, Inc. (NRC) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization representing all the diverse interests committed to the common goal of maximizing recycling to achieve the benefits of resource conservation, solid waste reduction, environmental protection, energy conservation, and social and economic development. Its 4,000 members include recycling and environmental organizations; large and small businesses; federal, state and local governments; and individuals. The NRC is dedicated to the advancement and improvement of recycling, and also source reduction, composting and reuse, by providing technical information, education, training, outreach and advocacy services to its members in order to conserve resources and benefit the environment. For additional information about the NRC, please visit www.nrc-recycle.org.

Founded in 1978, the National Recycling Coalition, Inc. (NRC) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization representing all the diverse interests committed to the common goal of maximizing recycling to achieve the benefits of resource conservation, solid waste reduction, environmental protection, energy conservation, and social and economic development. Its 4,000 members include recycling and environmental organizations; large and small businesses; federal, state and local governments; and individuals. The NRC is dedicated to the advancement and improvement of recycling, and also source reduction, composting and reuse, by providing technical information, education, training, outreach and advocacy services to its members in order to conserve resources and benefit the environment. For additional information about the NRC, please visit www.nrc-recycle.org.

Individuals wanting to take part in a collection set up by one of the organizations participating in the Nike Reuse-A-Shoe program can find a list of drop off locations on the Nike Reuse-A-Shoe Web site: www.nikereuseashoe.com.