Home / News / Sportiqe Announces Initiative to Support Highland Park Community

Sportiqe Announces Initiative to Support Highland Park Community

Sportiqe Apparel Co. today announced the release of a limited edition tee-shirt designed to support the Highland Park community in the wake of the July 4, 2022 mass shooting, which took the lives of seven people and wounded more than 40 others. The shirt itself takes cues from the blue color and font of Highland Park High School paired with an outline of the State of Illinois. It will retail for $36, with 100 percent of proceeds going to the Highland Park Community Foundation (HPCF). 

Sportiqe’s aim is to work locally in Chicago to help spread the word about the shirt and do as much as they can to support the community and help it to heal. It will initially be sold onsite at Highland Park’s iconic local restaurant Michael’s Grill & Salad Bar, directly through Sportiqe’s website at www.Sportiqe.com, at the upcoming O.A.R. and Dispatch concert with special guest G. Love on August 13th at Ravinia, another Highland Park mainstay, and at the Windy City Smokeout from August 4th to 7th, the largest country music festival in Chicago. The brand is also working to encourage local Chicago personalities to embrace the cause, including athletes, artists and public figures.

The Highland Park Community Foundation, which will receive all proceeds from the shirt sales,  established the Highland Park Shooting Response Fund following the tragedy. 100% of any funds donated – whether through tee-shirt sales or any other means – will be distributed, and none of the donations received will be used for administrative or similar expenses. The purpose of the fund is to provide financial support as soon as possible to the victims of the July 4th shooting and their families, as well as non-profit organizations that are helping victims, their families and the broader community that has been impacted by the tragedy.

“This is a devastating tragedy and there’s nothing that I nor Sportiqe as a company can do to change that or undo the damage that has been done,” said Jason Franklin, Sportiqe co-founder. “I grew up in the Highland Park area and I have long-time friends and family that still live there, and several of us in the Sportiqe family are from Chicago. We just want to help in any small way that we can.”

“When Sportiqe approached us to get involved it was a no-brainer – anything we can do to support the community we’re embracing wholeheartedly,” added Ryan Gamperl, co-owner of Michael’s Grill & Salad Bar – known by locals as Michael’s Hot Dogs. “We’ve seen everyone here rallying to support one another, and it’s comforting to know that even those who have moved away are keeping us in their hearts.” 

For additional information on the Highland Park tee please visit https://sportiqe.com/pages/highland-park. For additional information on Sportiqe and their apparel head to www.sportiqe.com.

About Jerry Milani

mm
Jerry Milani is a writer and public relations executive living in Bloomfield, N.J. He has worked in P.R. for more than 30 years in college and conference sports media relations, two agencies and for the International Fight League, a team-based mixed martial arts league, and as a freelance professional. His PR clients have included Wizard World and FAN EXPO, which produce pop culture and celebrity conventions across North America, USA Wrestling, the National Lacrosse League, Strat-O-Matic Media, the Pacific Life Open and Pilot Pen Tennis tournaments and dozens of others. Milani is also the director of athletic communications for Caldwell University. He is a proud graduate of North Rockland High School and Fordham University and when not attending a Yankees, Rams or Cougars game can be reached at Jerry (at) JerryMilani (dot) com.

Check Also

Fanatics Fest Returns to New York City in 2025

Fanatics Fest Fanatics has announced plans for the return of Fanatics Fest NYC – the ...