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WHEREAS, it is important to recognize industrious individuals who give back to the community where they grew up, Mr. Erin Patton has worked diligently to provide stylish and affordable clothing and shoes to the youth of Pittsburgh, as well as people across the country; and
WHEREAS, Erin Patton was born in Pittsburgh to Connie Robinson, a single mother who worked two jobs to raise him and his two brothers, Joe and Brian, in the Homewood-Brushton community. After graduating from Peabody High School, Mr. Patton went on to receive a degree from Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University and an MBA from Southern Methodist University in Texas; and
WHEREAS, while employed at Nike, Mr. Patton met sports legend Michael Jordan who asked him to oversee the marketing of his product line, Air Jordan. The combination of Mr. Patton's many clever business skills, love of sports, and understanding of the hip-hop culture which he first experienced in Pittsburgh, Air Jordan became the first big athletic footwear line in the world; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Patton founded his own successful company, The Mastermind Group, in 2001 through which he has worked with superstars such as LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers, tennis greats Venus and Serena Williams, and large corporations such as Motorola and Pepsi; and
WHEREAS, one of Mr. Patton's newest clients is Stephon Marbury of the New York Knicks, and together they launched Starbury, a line of affordable athletic shoes and clothing. All of the items in this line cost $14.95 or less to encourage young people to focus more on their education than competing over the latest fashions; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Patton generously donated sneakers from the Starbury line to the fantastic players of the WAMO 106ers and the Peabody Alumni basketball teams for the charity game at Contact, an AIDS awareness event co-sponsored by Educating Teens about HIV/AIDS Inc. at Peabody High School on March 24, 2006.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize and commend Erin Patton for his work to promote urban culture by promoting athletic clothing and shoes that is affordable to everyone.