Mysterious Donation of Rare Air Jordans to Homeless Shelter Surprises with Thousands in Value
A priceless act of kindness unfolded when an anonymous donor gifted a homeless shelter in Oregon with a pair of exceedingly rare Air Jordans Little did they know, these extraordinary shoes went on to fetch over $50,000 in auction proceeds, profoundly benefiting the deserving organization
Earlier this year, an Oregon homeless shelter received a surprise donation of rare Air Jordans. The donation ultimately resulted in the organization receiving over $50,000 in auction proceeds. Erin Holcomb, the director of staff ministry at the Portland Rescue Mission, shared that it began in April when an anonymous donor dropped off a pair of gold shoes at the Burnside shelter.
James Free, a participant in the organization's extended shelter program, discovered the distinctive shoes. Initially thought to be in pristine condition, Holcomb mentioned that they were set aside for further inspection.
After a brief online search, it was determined that the shoes closely resembled a pair of gold Air Jordans worn by director Spike Lee at the 2019 Academy Awards when he received his first Oscar.
Holcomb was impressed by the replicas and considered selling them for $100 on eBay. However, when she brought them to a local sneaker shop, she learned that the shoes were actually a limited edition made for Lee and his close associates, and were never available to the public, as confirmed by Sothebys to CNN.
Holcomb expressed complete shock at the unexpected items found in the donations bin, stating, "I was absolutely shocked because I wouldn't have ever in a million years imagined that those would have ended up in our donations bin. But obviously I was thrilled and amazed."
James Free is pictured holding a pair of of gold Nike Air Jordan 3 sneakers at the Portland Rescue Mission.
Aaron Ankrom/Portland Rescue Mission/AP
The shop owner made an offer to purchase the sneakers on the spot, but Holcomb politely declined, saying she needed to consider it. After some thought, she discovered that Sothebys had previously auctioned at least one pair of the other custom-made shoes. She contacted the global auction house and was informed that they believed the sneakers would be a great fit for an upcoming sneaker auction at the end of the year.
"They offered to waive their seller's fee," Holcomb said, ensuring that all profits would go to benefit the organization.
She contacted the designer, Tinker Hatfield, who generously agreed to donate an unpublished design concept board used in his collaboration with Lee, along with a replacement box for the shoes. Hatfield, a local in Portland, even visited the Mission to autograph the memorabilia just before Holcomb flew out to Manhattan to personally turn in the shoes.
An auction date was set, and Sothebys estimated the shoes would sell for between $15,000 and $20,000.
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In a statement to CNN, Sothebys explained what made the pair of shoes so special despite not having been worn by Lee.
"The limited production and unique design, along with Tinker's autograph on the box and the design proof, make these sneakers a highly sought-after collector's item," stated Eric LiBassi, an expert in Sotheby's Streetwear and Modern Collectibles Department in New York.
"This particular pair is one of a very select few. They were apparently set aside for Spike Lee and a few others on his team," LiBassi explained. "Spike and Tinker collaborated on creating a colorway to commemorate his Oscar nomination for the film, BlacKkKlansman." A colorway refers to a designer's chosen combination of colors.
On December 18, more than a month after Holcomb turned in the shoes, the auction went live and the Rescue Mission held a watch party.
The shoes sold for $50,800.
Spike Lee accepts the award for best adapted screenplay for "BlacKkKlansman" at the Oscars on February 24, 2019, in Los Angeles.
Holcomb described the scene as filled with enthusiastic clapping, cheering, and hugging. People were truly thrilled, exchanging high fives and enjoying the fun moment of witnessing the beautiful conclusion of this amazing story.
"It's amazing how this all unfolded, and I feel truly lucky to be involved," Free expressed in a video shared on the Missions Facebook page after the auction ended. "This will make a big difference for so many people in various ways, so I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity."
The origin of the shoes and the identity of the buyer are still unknown - something for which the Portland Rescue Missions staff is deeply appreciative.
The purchaser truly created a beautiful ending to an amazing story, and we are so thankful to whoever gave them. We appreciate the trust they placed in us by entrusting us with these shoes," expressed Holcomb.
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The proceeds from the auction will go back to the Burnside shelter where the shoes were found, Holcomb said.
"We can now offer more meals, overnight shelter, and critical services thanks to this donation. We are grateful for the support," Holcomb stated. "This influx of donations comes at a critical time for us, as the demand for our services is high." The organization receives over 130,000 pounds of clothing donations annually, which are distributed to those in need, with rare exceptions such as the gold Air Jordan shoes, according to Holcomb.
"We rely on the support of many individuals who contribute in smaller yet crucial ways to keep our doors open and continue serving our community," she explained. "These shoes play a part in that, but the real narrative here is the incredible generosity of our community."
