Pitt's Kenny Pickett approaches name recognition opportunities by paying them forward
When the NCAA loosened restrictions on athletes profiting from their names and reputations, Kenny Pickett said he planned to proceed cautiously.
I love this community! Excited to announce I have teamed up with @PGTTrucking & @Ithen_USA to form "Pickett’s Partners" & on Aug. 9 we will donate 200 t-shirts to the @bgcwpa. Details on how you can buy yours w/ proceeds donated to the @bgcwpa are coming soon! #PickettsPartners pic.twitter.com/F6DgGqoXdf
— Kenny Pickett (@kennypickett10) July 27, 2021
Pickett has done that while carefully choosing at least three locally based opportunities, two of which he will pay forward to teammates and young people in the area.
The most recent is the creation of Pickett’s Partners in association with PGT Trucking of Monaca and Ithen USA, a custom apparel company in Grove City.
Pickett made a Twitter announcement Tuesday that his partnership with Ithen USA and PGT will include donating 200 T-shirts to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania. Pickett said proceeds of sales of the T-shirts will be donated to the clubs.
Patrick A. Gallagher, who is PGT’s founder and CEO, is a major Pitt booster.
“He’s going to be a big part of the community, and we are proud to support that,” said Katie Irvine, PGT’s communications and media director. “Choosing Kenny in this partnership just makes sense. I know in talking with Mr. Gallagher and Mr. Troian (Gregg, president), they are very excited about the future and this partnership.”
Irvine said other initiatives with Pickett are in the evolution stage.
Previously, Pickett struck a deal for weekly “hogs dinners” for him and his offensive linemen with the Spirits and Tales restaurant inside the Oaklander Hotel on Bigelow Boulevard.
First Hog Dinner with the fellas! Thank you @theoaklanderpgh & @spiritstalespgh for taking care of us. #TheOaklanderPartner pic.twitter.com/O6qeGESPKB
— Kenny Pickett (@kennypickett10) July 22, 2021
Pickett also plans to have his own radio show on Pitt’s flagship station, 93.7 FM. Coach Pat Narduzzi said last week Pickett has turned down other opportunities.
Jerry DiPaola is a TribLive reporter covering Pitt athletics since 2011. A Pittsburgh native, he joined the Trib in 1993, first as a copy editor and page designer in the sports department and later as the Pittsburgh Steelers reporter from 1994-2004. He can be reached at jdipaola@triblive.com.
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