Steelers' Cam Heyward donates cleats in honor of Tree of Life victims
The Squirrel Hill neighborhood is close to Cam Heyward’s heart.
The Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle used to live there. He was devastated after the Oct. 27, 2018 shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue.
Helping the area became his focus in “My Cause, My Cleats,” an initiative throughout the National Football League. A player can choose one week to wear personalized cleats representing an organization or issue important to him.
He then donates his game-worn shoes to a charity.
Heyward gave a pair of personalized cleats to honor the memory of the victims of the shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue. The shoes will support The Cecil and David Rosenthal Memorial Fund at Achieva, and the 10.27 Healing Partnership.
“I want to continue to shine a light and pay homage to the people we lost and their families,” Heyward said Friday. “They didn’t deserve this at all.”
Achieva is a nonprofit organization that supports people with disabilities and their families.
The 10.27 Healing Partnership is a collaboration of community, government and faith-based organizations dedicated to helping communities and individuals heal from trauma, according to its website. It is the coordinating agency for the community’s response to the synagogue mass shooting.
Have you gotten your raffle ticket yet for Cam Heyward's Game Worn Cleats?
Proceeds go to The Cecil and David Rosenthal Memorial Fund and The 10.27 Healing Partnership.
Get your raffle ticket here: https://t.co/BDN2M54vxl pic.twitter.com/evVI80u0V8
— Achieva (@Achieva) November 13, 2020
Heyward knows Michele Rosenthal, sister of victims David and Cecil Rosenthal. She used to work as a community relations manager for the Steelers.
The brothers are remembered through the campaign #LoveLiketheBoys launched to promote random acts of kindness.
“I know this won’t bring her brothers back, but I want to be there for her when I can,” Heyward said. “This is our city, and it’s an opportunity for us to give back. We are role models and when we have a chance to help, we need to seize those moments.”
Heyward chose 10.27 Healing Partnership and Achieva from the bottom of his heart because he wants people to remember and care about the victims and to stand against anti-Semitism, said Maggie Feinstein, Director of the 10.27 Healing Partnership. The partnership is located in the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh in Squirrel Hill.
“All 11 of those we lost have a story, an amazing story of kindness,” Feinstein said. “Cam choosing to recognize them and the great work Achieva does for people with disabilities means so much. He is giving them a voice.”
Heyward’s donation sends a clear message that “all of Pittsburgh stands with us,” Feinstein said.
The cleats are significant to Achieva because they promote acts of kindness in memory of the brothers, Steve Suroviec, president and CEO of Achieva said.
“’Love Like the Boys’ encourages others to share the pure, kindhearted nature of Cecil and David through uplifting deeds,” Suroviec said.
Lisa Razza, director of communications for Achieva, based on Pittsburgh’s South Side, said the gift is huge, both in the size of the shoes and in the size of Heyward’s heart.
“They are giant,” Razza said. “It is such an honor that he chose Achieva and 10.27 Healing Partnership. Our city was heartbroken and continues to mourn the loss of the 11. We supported Cecil and David for over 20 years”
Having “#LoveLiketheBoys” written on the shoes represents the kind-hearted nature of the brothers, Razza said.
“Cam’s gift is beautiful,” Razza said. “These shoes will definitely have an impact. They are a neat piece of history. And they help show that since the tragedy this city is united.”
The cleats were designed Pittsburgh artist Cody Sabol, 25, of North Huntingdon,.
Known for his speed painting where he creates a piece in minutes in front of a live audience, and now his cleats painting for athletes, he also does fine art. Sabol said painting cleats is a process because you have to remove the wax finish with acetone and sand them because you don’t want them to be too smooth or the paint won’t hold.
“I had to learn to use an air brush and different materials that are used to paint shoes,” said Sabol, who has worked with Heyward before, including three other cleats designs. “The special thing about Cam’s cleats is Cam. He is so involved with the community, and he has a love for Squirrel Hill.”
Sabol, will release a photo of black-and-gold cleats with lion’s faces he made for Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt for Sundays game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, sometime Saturday afternoon.
Sabol said Heyward introduced him to Michele Rosenthal.
“Michele and I met to discuss what we would put on the cleats,” Sabol said. “We talked for three hours about her brothers. It was an amazing conversation.”
Fans can buy a ticket to win the cleats in an online raffle that runs through Monday. The winner will be announced via live stream at noon Thursday before the Steelers host the Baltimore Ravens at Heinz Field.
Tickets are available here.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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