Mat-Su Sea Hawkers continue to give Nike shoes to local youth

The Mat-Su Sea Hawkers, a local booster club for the National Football League’s Seattle Seahawks and charitable organization, has a variety of causes it supports.

On the list is the Blitz Kicks 4 Kids program, which provides Nike shoes for children in need. It’s another partnership with the Seahawks. This cause specifically includes Blitz, the Seattle Seahawks mascot.

“Our goal was 2,000 pairs of shoes, and we did it,” Mat-Su Sea Hawkers president Tom Spindler said. “Now it’s just a matter of getting them out.”

Spindler and Seattle Seahawks Vice President of Outreach and External Affairs Mike Flood were at Grizzly Family Fitness on a recent afternoon, alongside a handful of volunteers, handing brand new Nikes to local youth. This event was specifically for Knik Tribal Council. Spindler said the club was giving away about 125 pairs of shoes that day, helping about 80 families that registered.

Blitz was slated to make the trip to Alaska for a weekend’s worth of giveaways, but that was rescheduled for April. Spindler said there will be similar events for the Covenant House, Knik House and Set Free Alaska to give away more shoes during the rescheduled trip.

Thanks to the Mat-Su Health Foundation, Ulu Factory, Alaska Airlines, and others, Spindler said, the Sea Hawkers were able to meet their goal for the Kicks 4 Kids program in 2025.

“We fundraised $100,000. Our goal was 2,000 pairs of shoes,” he said.

Spindler said about 75 percent of that total will stay in the Mat-Su Valley.

“We will start taking count of who else we can help in April,” Spindler said. “We are still at about 50 percent of our budget.”

That means the Sea Hawkers still have a lot more shoes to give away. Spindler said the club is also eyeing events for the Special Olympics athletes in Anchorage and the Mat-Su.

Players and front office representatives of the Seahawks will return for their annual summer trip to the Valley in July. The Sea Hawkers will host their annual dinner and auction, and the flag football event for local youth to participate in. They will also be giving away more Nike shoes.

Contact Frontiersman managing editor Jeremiah Bartz at editor@frontiersman.com.