PHOTOS: Detroit Lions share ‘My Cause, My Cleats’ charitable efforts

Week 14 in the NFL is “My Cause, My Cleats” week in the NFL. Now in its third season in the NFL, “My Cause, My Cleats” is an opportunity for NFL players to share a favorite charitable cause while also sporting some pretty uniquely-designed cleats for Sunday’s slate of games. For many of the players participating, these cleats will be donated to NFL Auction, where the proceeds will eventually go to the charitable cause the players are representing.

Over 20 Detroit Lions players—including head coach Matt Patricia—will be participating in the event this season. Here’s a list of each player and cause and a slideshow of each of the cleats each player will be sporting.

Oday Aboushi

Charity: UNICEF
More info here: www.unicefusa.org
Aboushi’s take:

“It brings relief to the kids in Palestine. They work closely with the kids there who haven’t had much and have been in misfortune of war. They help with shelter, food, education, playgrounds and giving kids a childhood to grow up in despite their circumstances.”

Jamal Agnew

Charity: Detroit Lions Academy
More info here: https://www.detroitk12.org/detroitlions
Agnew’s take:

“Detroit Lions Academy is a school out in Detroit. They help kids get back on track and give them opportunities to do better in school. Since my rookie year I’ve been working with them hands on, and I swear I’ve had some of the best experiences. When I work with them, I see a lot of myself in them. I actually did something cool and I had them (the students) design them themselves.”

David Blough

Charity: Jimmy V Foundation
More info here: https://www.v.org/about/
Blough’s take:

“I chose this because of the incredible impact that Tyler’s life had on so many people. He chose even in the midst of his circumstances to rejoice always, pray continually, and to give thanks in all circumstances. That’s why with this game, I wanted to choose to honor him and his life. I hope that my play and my actions reflect the incredible young man that he is and the legacy that he left.”

Tyrell Crosby

Charity: Arbor Day Foundation
More info here: https://www.arborday.org/
Crosby’s take:

“Playing at Oregon University, I was surrounded by trees, so I thought it was an awesome foundation to get behind. There are some areas when you’re driving to the coast from Eugene, and you can see where it’s been deforested. The first time I saw that I was blown away, just seeing greenery all over then just a giant patch of trees that have been cut down.”

Jarrad Davis

Charity: Boys & Girls Club of America
More info here: https://www.bgca.org/

Devon Kennard

Charity: Midnight Golf Program
More info here: https://midnightgolf.org/
Kennard’s take:

“Midnight Golf is an after-school program here in Detroit that does great work working with seniors who are getting ready for college. I did them for a second year in a row because the work they’re doing for kids who are seniors in high school and their preparation for the next phase of their life is really incredible.”

Miles Killebrew

Charity: PlayWorks
More info here: https://www.playworks.org/
Killebrew’s take:

“Playworks offers opportunities for kids who may not otherwise have an opportunity to go out and play. Playworks does a great job with teaching kids intrinsic values that they’ll carry for the rest of their life. It just gives them an opportunity to go out there and make some friends and gives them a shelter free from bullying and toxic environments that they might otherwise have on a playground.”

Matt Nelson

Charity: I Know Jack Foundation
More info here: https://www.iknowjackfoundation.com/
Nelson’s take:

“Jack is a local hometown kid who at the age of 5 was diagnosed with a super rare form of brain cancer that no one had ever survived from, and he beat all the odds. He since grew up and graduated from high school. His family started this organization to give back to other families and kids.”

Frank Ragnow

Charity: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
More info here: https://afsp.org/
Ragnow’s take:

“American Foundation for Suicide Prevention does a lot of research and provide a community for people affected by suicide. Not only to help prevent suicide in the future but also to help those affected by suicide go through life after it. I did it in honor of my good buddy who we lost to suicide this past spring, so with my cleats, I just designed them with things that he liked.”

Dan Skipper

Charity: Dreams Never Alter Sports Foundation
More info here: http://www.dreamsneveralter.com/
Skipper’s take:

“The goal for DNA is to provide kids with a way to explore sports, whether that’s at the beginning stages or trying to advance to the next level. It’s a way for kids to get involved in sports in a safe and uplifting environment.”

Darius Slay

Charity: Coastal Soccer Outreach
More info here: https://www.coastaloutreachsoccer.com/
Slay’s take:

Slay and cousin Shawn Williams formed a partnership in 2016, and they’ve worked together to create a variety of resources for youths in both Brunswick and Detroit. The two have worked through the Coastal Outreach Soccer program to open the Big Play Center of Excellence, which offers academic support, and offer various community service and leadership development programs.

Matthew Stafford

Charity: Acoustic Neuroma Association
More info here: https://www.anausa.org/
Stafford’s take:

“Kelly, my wife, had a procedure done to remove one of these (acoustic neuroma) in the offseason. Obviously, it hits home to me and to my family quite a bit. It’s an honor to have them done and to not only honor her but all the other people that are going through this same situation.”

Jahlani Tavai

Charity: Ocean Conservancy
More info here: https://oceanconservancy.org/

Tracy Walker

Charity: Breast Cancer Awareness
More info here: https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/
Walker’s take:

“One cleat is for my aunt. She’s battling with breast cancer right now. I wanted to dedicate this out to her. This other cleat is for my family. I have a close bond with all my family members. I feel like this was the best way of represent for my family.”

Kenny Wiggins

Charity: Operation Smile
More info here: https://www.operationsmile.org/
Wiggins’ take:

“Operation Smile is an international medical charity that has provided hundreds of thousands of free surgeries for children and young adults in developing countries who are born with cleft lip, cleft palate or other dental and facial conditions. It is one of the oldest and largest volunteer-based organizations dedicated to improving the health and lives of children worldwide through access to surgical care.”

Danny Amendola

Charity: Adaptive Training Foundation
More info here: https://adaptivetrainingfoundation.org/

Mike Daniels

Charity: No Bully Zone
More info here: https://www.nobully.org/

Matt Patricia

Charity: Word of Honor Fund
More info: https://wordofhonorfund.com/

Trey Flowers

Charity: Flowers of the Future
More info: https://www.treyflowers.com/non-profit

Rashaan Melvin

Charity: 1 Route 4 Change

Amani Oruwariye

Charity: Military Appreciation

Tavon Wilson

Charity: Diabetes Awareness