The University of Notre Dame football program will again partner with Under Armour in 2024 for the ‘Cleats For A Cause’ initiative to support five local organizations.

Each football student-athlete will wear special-edition Under Armour Slip Speed shoes during the team’s walk from the Basilica of the Sacred Heart to Notre Dame Stadium on Sept. 21, 2024 for the Miami-Ohio gameday. An online auction will run prior to and after the game for the shoes. In addition, custom cleats inspired by select Notre Dame football student-athletes will also be up for auction.

Student-athletes who will have custom cleats up for auction include: defensive lineman Jordan Botelho, wide receiver Beaux Collins, defensive lineman Howard Cross III, tight end Mitchell Evans, linebacker Jack Kiser, quarterback Riley Leonard, running back Jeremiyah Love, defensive lineman Rylie Mills, cornerback Benjamin Morrison, running back Jadarian Price and linebacker Jaylen Sneed.

“Our team is passionate about this initiative, and throughout the offseason and years prior, we have built deep relationships with these charities,” said graduate linebacker Jack Kiser, the initiative’s player committee chairman. “After the success of Cleats For a Cause in 2022, it means a lot to us to use our platform to bring awareness and financial support to these organizations doing important work in the community.”

‘Cleats For A Cause’ will support the South Bend Center for the Homeless, the Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Indiana Corridor, the Casie Center (Child Abuse Services Investigation & Education), Cultivate Food Rescue and the Logan Center. Proceeds from the auction will be distributed equally between the five charities, and the five charities will each be represented on an equal number of shoes spread across the roster.

Notre Dame Football student-athletes have spent substantial time volunteering and collaborating with each of the five local charities included in the initiative throughout the offseason.

Each pair of shoes and cleats was painted by Jerry Barca ‘28, a current Notre Dame freshman.

Cleats for a Cause Partners

“Cleats for a Cause aligns holistically with Under Armour’s core brand values. At UA, we envision a world in which everyone has access and opportunity to participate in sports. Sports are so much more than wins and losses; they teach us to be teammates and leaders, to bounce back, to never back down, and to push our limits. We’re thrilled to partner with Notre Dame, and all of these incredible organizations, to strive towards this vision.”
– Catherine Marquette, Director, Collegiate Partnerships Marketing with Under Armour.

“As we celebrate our 50th year as an organization, we are thrilled to be serving more youth than ever – 3,200 across a five-county region. This is not possible without community support, and we are so grateful for this opportunity through Cleats for a Cause. For our Club kids to see this organization they are part of – the doors they walk through every day – highlighted by Notre Dame Football, is a powerful reminder that they are seen and that there is an entire community investing in their success.”
– Jacqueline Kronk, Chief Executive Officer, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northern Indiana Corridor

“The CASIE Center is honored to be part of this year’s “Cleats for a Cause”. It is a privilege that members of the football team recognized and support our work investigating, protecting and preventing child abuse. We are excited to partner with the Notre Dame football team to tackle child abuse in our community.”
– Carolyn Hahn Kremer, Executive Director of The CASIE Center

“Cleats for a Cause is a great opportunity for these wonderful agencies to partner with the great student athletes at Notre Dame to make a huge impact in our community. While we work to break the cycle of homelessness, we know they have our backs and support us in so many ways. They are making a difference both on and off the field!”
– Steve Camilleri, Executive Director, Center for the Homeless

“Cultivate is honored to be a part of the Cleats For a Cause initiative and incredibly fortunate to have the support of the Notre Dame football team and the University, as a whole. Notre Dame Football has an elevated platform that affords us the opportunity to share our work with a broader community. The football players come in several times a year to make meals for our backpack program. They are inspiring as both athletes and dedicated members of the community, sharing in our vision of No Neighbor Hungry, No Food Wasted.”
– Jim Conklin, Executive Director, Cultivate

“We are honored to partner with Under Armour and The University of Notre Dame to bring awareness of the LOGAN mission through the ‘Cleats For A Cause’ initiative. The Notre Dame student athletes have provided many memorable experiences for the children and adults served by LOGAN. This initiative allows us to promote the acceptance of people of all abilities and create a community where kindness and dignity enrich the lives of everyone.”
– Matt Harrington, President & CEO, LOGAN Community Resources, Inc.