Star quarterback Caleb Williams has chosen the Best Buy Foundation® as one of his partners for this year’s NFL My Cause My Cleats campaign, the annual league-wide initiative that allows players to wear custom-designed cleats highlighting causes they care about.
The Best Buy Foundation is partnering with Caleb Williams through his nonprofit, Caleb Cares, and Microsoft to shine a light on their shared commitment to empower young people by equipping them with the skills and resources they need to thrive in their future.
As part of this initiative, three Best Buy Teen Tech Center® members designed custom cleats using Microsoft Copilot+ PCs and professional design tools. Williams chose two designs to wear during the Nov. 23 and Black Friday (Nov. 28) games.
“Through our partnership, these young creatives get the opportunity to blend art, technology and their own unique experiences into designs that will be seen on such a big stage,” said Olivia Jefferson, vice president of social impact at Best Buy. “Opportunities like this not only help young people build confidence but they also develop valuable skills to chase after their dreams, now and in the future.”
Journey to gameday
Using Microsoft Copilot+ PCs and professional design tools, the three Best Buy Teen Tech Center students were tasked with designing cleats that reflect stories of empowerment and anti-bullying.
“This next generation is already shaping the voice of our future, today. Having the chance to amplify their messages and empower their voices to carry further is what really gives meaning to the work we do: building connections,” said Augustus Willman, market consultant and consumer partner relationship manager at Microsoft. “Programs like this, and partners who share our mission, like the Best Buy Foundation, make the idea of changing lives possible and give real weight to what it means to build brighter futures together. I can’t wait to see where these young people go next.”
The teens were paired with Microsoft employees who served as mentors and attended a variety of workshops at the Teen Tech Centers to deepen their design skills working on programs used by industry professionals. Over the span of four weeks, each participant transformed their sketch into a custom airbrushed design directly onto the cleat.
As part of the Best Buy Foundation’s aim to support young people in achieving economic opportunity, each teen was compensated for their design and time spent creating their art.
About Best Buy Teen Tech Centers®
Best Buy Teen Tech Centers®, an initiative of the Best Buy Foundation®, are a network of creative, youth-centered community hubs where young people can engage with and have access to the latest technology, build critical skills and gain knowledge through interactions with supportive mentors to prepare them for the careers of the future. Each center empowers young people with the tools and resources they need to chart their own path for educational and career success to achieve economic opportunity.
Read more about the Best Buy Foundation and its mission to equip young people with the skills to shape their futures.