Philanthropic Events for LSU-Tulane

This weekend, Nike will be sponsoring a few philanthropic events (but beware of #2):

1) Fans can recycle their athletic shoes old an new at a recycling event. The event is scheduled in conjunction with the Tulane vs. LSU football game on Saturday from 10 to 11:30 a.m., fans can bring their old, tired athletic shoes (any brand) to be recycled on Saturday, September 29. The recycled materials will be used to resurface playgrounds in the New Orleans area. (No sandals, thongs, pumps, dress shoes, or boots. No metal pieces on shoes such as eyelets, zippers, cleats, or spikes.) Note that the next city-wide recycle drop-off (including glass and plastic) will be on October 27th. For more details or if you want to help, email Emery.Myers@us.mwhglobal.com

2) LSU and Tulane will be wearing special jerseys this weekend, with LSU wearing Purple and Tulane unveiling their white jerseys with a Pelican patch before the game. The two sides will be selling products and auctioning off the jerseys to benefit The Greater New Orleans Foundation to support Nike's Let Me Play initiative and help rebuild New Orleans through sport.

While the recycling event is certainly praiseworthy, do note that only $1 per item from the jersey and merchandise sales sold will go to charity, and an initiative with Nike's name all over it at that. How ridiculous is it that Nike is publicizing this so fervently as a selfless act of charity, and no one knows that only a dollar of the money they'll be spending goes toward charity? I suppose brilliantly deceptive PR is why the Nike brand has become so popular over the years.