Eminem, Nike Deal Will Benefit Charities

The Associated Press
Monday, August 28, 2006; 5:55 PM

NEW YORK -- Eminem has collaborated with Nike Inc. to create a limited-edition collection of Air Max sneakers to be auctioned for charity.

The Grammy-winning rapper designed uppers for eight shoes in the series, including the Air Max '87 and the most recent Air Max 360. His reinterpretation of the upper has been laid onto the original blueprints for each of the Air Max shoes to create a unique set of designs.

Eight sets of the footwear _ a total of 64 pairs _ will be produced for the auction. Proceeds will benefit Eminem's Marshall Mathers Foundation, which provides funds for organizations working with troubled youth in southeast Michigan, and ninemillion.org, a global campaign to bring education and sports programs to children in refugee camps across the globe.

"We're always looking for new ways to try to raise money and awareness for the foundation, so when Nike approached us we jumped at the chance," Eminem said in a statement on his Web site.

"Who wouldn't want to design their own line of Nikes? And to do it for charity makes it that much better," the 33-year-old singer said.

The sneakers, autographed by Eminem, will be auctioned at Nike stores in London, Berlin and Paris and on the eBay Web site over a four-week period. The auction starts Thursday at Niketown in London and on eBay Sept. 12.

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On the Net:

Eminem: http://www.eminem.com/

Nike: http://www.nike.com/

Ninemillion: http://ninemillion.org/