Vikings to Raise Awareness Through 'My Cause My Cleats' Campaign

EAGAN, Minn. – When Minnesota hosts Detroit at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday, the Vikings will be using their feet to promote causes close to their hearts. More than 50 players – including two currently on Injured Reserve – will don custom-designed cleats that recently were unveiled to each athlete. The footwear is painted to represent respective causes of the players’ choice as part of the NFL’s annual My Cause My Cleats initiative. Among the organizations represented this year are some of the players’ personal foundations or charities, including the Thielen Foundation, Raise the Barr Foundation and the Linval Joseph Foundation. Others include causes with which players have personal or long-lasting connections; a handful of these stories will be highlighted on Vikings.com this week. Below is a full list of the Vikings participating in Sunday’s “My Cause, My Cleats” campaign through custom kicks. Players are listed in numerical order.Britton Colquitt Organization: Love146 Cause: Ending child trafficking and exploitation Sean Mannion Organization: Team Gleason Foundation Cause: Finding solutions for ALS patients Connection: Mannion’s father-in-law passed away from ALS in 2013. Dan Bailey Organization: Muscular Dystrophy Association Cause: Curing muscular dystrophyKirk Cousins Organization: Boys & Girls Clubs Cause: Youth mentorship Chad Beebe Organization: American Cancer Society Cause: Finding cures and providing support for patients Connection: Beebe’s grandmother recently passed away from pancreatic cancer. Stefon Diggs Organization: American Heart Association Cause: Improving heart health Connection: Diggs’ father passed away from heart disease.Adam Thielen Organization: Thielen Foundation Cause: Inspiring and empowering others to reach their full potential Connection: Adam and his wife launched the Thielen Foundation in 2018. Mackensie Alexander Organization: Special Olympics Cause: Providing athletics opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities Mike Hughes Organizations: American Cancer Society/Endometriosis Foundation of America Cause: Advocacy for patients and continuing to research diseasesHarrison Smith Organization: Big Brothers Big Sisters Cause: Youth development Connection: Building on college experience, Smith has hosted multiple events for Bigs and Littles. Mike Boone Organization: American Cancer Society Cause: Supporting patients and supporting research Holton Hill Organization: Alzheimer’s Association Cause: Supporting patients and reducing effects of dementia Connection: Hill’s grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s several years ago.Alexander Mattison Organization: City of Hope San Bernardino Cause: Radiation oncology Connection: Mattison’s father underwent a bone marrow transplant for a leukemia treatment in his hometown. Trae Waynes Organization: Secondhand Hounds Cause: Animal Welfare Connection: Waynes has a passion for supporting pet adoption, having adopted multiple dogs.Jayron Kearse Organization: Big Brothers Big Sisters Cause: Youth development Connection: Kearse has volunteered for the organization that fosters meaningful mentorship opportunities. Xavier Rhodes Organization: Boys & Girls Clubs Cause: Youth development Connection: Rhodes has hosted multiple events.C.J. Ham Organization: Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Cause: Advancing research, clinical initiatives, patient services and advocacy Connection: Ham’s mother is fighting pancreatic cancer. Ameer Abdullah Organization: The Black Youth Project Cause: Social justice Connection: Abdullah, who is on the Vikings Social Justice committee, has a passion for advancing social justice.Dalvin Cook Organization: Minnesota Vikings Foundation/Vikings Table Cause: Supporting youth health/fighting hunger Connection: Cook helped launch the Vikings Table charity food truck this year. Kris Boyd Organization: Ronald McDonald House Charities Cause: Children’s health Kentrell Brothers Organization: Chiari and Syringomyelia Foundation Cause: Treating rare diseases Connection: Brothers’ mother battles Chiari malformation. Anthony Harris Organization: One Love Foundation Cause: Ending relationship violence and/or abuse Connection: One Love was named in honor of a victim who attended Harris’ alma mater, the University of Virginia. Ben Gedeon Organization: Navy Special Operations Foundation Cause: Military Connection: Gedeon’s brother is in the Navy.Eric Wilson Organization: People Serving People Cause: Helping homeless people through a family-focused shelter Hercules Mata’afa Organization: Animal Humane Society Cause: Animal welfare Eric Kendricks Organization: The Sheridan Story Cause: Fighting food insecurities Connection: Kendricks has helped raise money and support through his annual “Sacks for Kids” program.Anthony Barr Organization: Raise the Barr Foundation Cause: Supporting single moms Connection: After growing up in a single-parent household, Barr has directed the focus of his foundation toward helping others in a similar circumstance. Garrett Bradbury Organization: The Able Fables Cause: Special needs Connection: Bradbury’s friend from college established The Able Fables foundationAustin Cutting Organization: Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Cause: Animal welfare Cameron Smith Organization: United Heroes League Cause: Supporting military families Josh Kline Organization: TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors) Cause: Supporting families who have lost a loved one through military service Pat Elflein Organization: Crescent Cove Cause: Hospice care for children Connection: Elflein has volunteered numerous times at the facility. Rashod Hill Organization: The Codie Foundation Cause: Supporting hearing impaired Connection: Hill’s 4-year-old daughter has partial hearing loss and inspired creation of the foundation.Riley Reiff Organization: Pheasants Forever Cause: Conservation Dru Samia Organization: American Cancer Society Cause: Ovarian Cancer Olisaemeka Udoh Organization: Special Olympics Cause: Special needsBrian O’Neill Organization: Autism Speaks Cause: Advocating for people with autism-related conditions Connection: O’Neill’s older sister, Lorraine, has autism. Aviante Collins Organization: Dr. Leonard’s Cancer Research Fund Cause: Researching genetic engineering to fight cancer Connection: Two of Collins’ uncles have passed away because of cancer. Dakota Dozier Organization: Shriners Hospitals for Children Cause: Youth health Connection: Dozier’s sister underwent a surgery and lengthy stay at a Shriners Hospital. Bisi Johnson Organization: Boys & Girls Clubs Cause: Youth development through mentorship Connection: Johnson has volunteered for the organization.Kyle Rudolph Organization: University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital Cause: Children’s health Connection: Kyle and his wife make frequent visits for specific events, as well as to continue supporting families. They also created Kyle Rudolph’s End Zone, a respite for patients and families at the hospital. Tyler Conklin Organization: Humane Society of Macomb Cause: Animal welfare Irv Smith, Jr. Organization: Go2 Foundation for Lung Cancer Cause: Extending and improving lives of patients and those that are at-riskStephen Weatherly Organization: One Love Foundation Cause: Ending relationship abuse/violence Connection: Weatherly suffered a verbally and emotionally abusive relationship. Jalyn Holmes Organization: Option2 Cause: Helping student-athletes excel on and off the field Shamar Stephen Organization: Boys & Girls Clubs Cause: Youth development Jaleel Johnson Organization: People Serving People Cause: The region’s largest and most comprehensive family focused homeless shelter Ifeadi Odenigbo Organization: The Dayton Foundation Cause: Community and tragedy outreach Connection: Odenigbo helped support the victims of the mass shooting in his hometown of Dayton, Ohio, on Aug. 4, 2019. Armon Watts Organization: American Brain Tumor Association Cause: Support and advocacy for patientsEverson Griffen Organizations: American Cancer Society | American Heart Association | NAMI Causes: Breast cancer | Heart health | Mental health Connections: Griffen supports the ACS in honor of his mother-in-law and the AHA in memory of his mother. He returned this season after undergoing treatment for his mental health. Linval Joseph Organization: The Linval Joseph Foundation Cause: Anti-bullying Connection: A bullying victim during his youth, Joseph focuses on bullying-prevention efforts.Danielle Hunter Organization: Police Activities League Cause: Community building through character development Laquon Treadwell Organization: Boys & Girls Clubs; Feed My Starving Children Cause: Youth mentorship and combating food insecurity

News | Minnesota Vikings – vikings.com

Vikings to Raise Awareness Through 'My Cause My Cleats' Campaign

Davenport Talks About Joining The Vikings, His Fit On The Defense and More

Hanzus Explains Where Vikings Fit In Power Rankings Following First Wave of Free Agency

Lowry on Leaving Green Bay For Minnesota, Playing For Brian Flores and More

Where Do The Vikings Stand After The First Wave of Free Agency As The Draft Approaches?

Trevor Sikkema on Vikings' Approach To Free Agency So Far, Team's First Round Options In The Draft and More

Oliver: This Is A Great Opportunity and A Great Time To Be A Viking

Film Room: How Byron Murphy's Versatility and Smarts Will Make Him An Impact Player For The Vikings

The Voyage | Episode 04 | Season 4