FORT MYERS, Fla. – Former FGCU baseball standout and current Chicago White Sox staff ace Chris Sale and his wife, Brianne, have teamed up with local charity Laces of Love for those in Southwest Florida to donate new shoes to children in need during the Jan. 29 men's basketball home game at Alico Arena against Lipscomb.
 
On that night, fans are encouraged to donate new shoes (in particular sneakers), or to contribute financially, with all proceeds and shoes collected going directly to low income and disadvantaged children in Lee and Collier counties. Those who plan to donate shoes are asked to do so only with new shoes, with children sizes 12-7 being the most commonly needed.
 
Sale, who finished third in the American League Cy Young voting this past fall after posting a 12-4 record and 2.17 ERA, will be in attendance and address the initiative at the men's basketball game next Saturday, Jan. 17, at 7 p.m. against Jacksonville.
 
"My wife and I are so excited to give back to our local community through Laces of Love, and we're also grateful for FGCU Athletics providing us a platform to help others," said Sale. "Jeanne's (Nealon, Laces of Love President and Co-Founder) passion for these children is so contagious it make us want to be involved. We are looking forward to this event, and are happy to be able to make any kind of positive impact on these children that we can."
 
In 2014 alone, 9,000 children in Lee and Collier public schools received a new pair of shoes from Laces of Love, bringing the total to 69,000 new shoes distributed to those in need since the charity's inception in 2005. Laces of Love also provides shoes to children who want to participate in sports – i.e. soccer cleats, volleyball shoes, football cleats, basketball shoes – but would otherwise be unable without the appropriate footwear.
 
"We are so excited to have Chris and Brianne support our mission to help needy kids," remarked Nealon. "It is great to have FGCU support a local charity to help so many needy kids in Southwest Florida. A new pair of shoes makes such a difference in a child's life."
 
Laces of Love relies solely on a volunteer staff and donations, and works directly with school nurses, teachers and staff to help identify children in need and ensure they receive the proper-sized footwear.
 
"We are honored to have the opportunity to even play a small part with such a wonderful cause," added FGCU Director of Athletics Ken Kavanagh. "What Jeanne and her group of volunteers have built is such a heartwarming story, and it is neat to see Eagles' Brianne and Chris as active members of this fantastic Southwest Florida philanthropy. We look forward to witnessing our Green and Blue backers supporting this tremendous initiative."
 
Boxes will be available upon entry into Alico Arena for the 7 p.m. tipoff on Thursday, Jan. 29, in which shoes and monetary donations can be donated. For those unable to attend that game but would still like to donate will have another opportunity two days later on Saturday, Jan. 31, when the men's basketball team takes on Northern Kentucky at 7 p.m. For more information about Laces of Love, visit www.lacesoflove.org or call 239-591-1172.
 
"To our surprise, even though we live in one of the wealthiest areas of the United Sates, more than 60 percent of Collier County public school students are 'economically needy,'" added Brianne Sale, who also attended FGCU. "We're hopeful that this drive helps raise awareness for those in need and that we can continue to make an impact in these children's lives in years to come." 
 
Sale is one of only six players in Major League Baseball history to play in the big leagues the same year he was drafted after being selected 13th overall following his junior season at FGCU in 2010. Since moving to the White Sox starting rotation in 2012, Sale – one of the best, if not the best, left-handed pitcher in baseball – has compiled a 40-26 record and has never had a season ERA over 3.07 en route to finishing sixth in the Cy Young voting in 2012 and fifth in 2013.
 
An AL All Star each of the past three seasons, Sale earned the victory in the 2013 All-Star Game after pitching two perfect innings in a 3-0 AL win. While at FGCU, Sale – who lives in the area in the offseason and remains a great supporter of FGCU – was named the Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Year in 2010 after posting a perfect 11-0 record with a 2.01 ERA over 17 games. In 103 innings during the '10 campaign, Sale struck out a national-best 146 batters while walking only 14.
 
FGCU has won a combined 40 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 7+ Division-I seasons as a member of the A-Sun and Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association. Furthermore, in only 3+ seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, FGCU has sent 10 teams to the NCAA Tournament, while men's golf, swimming and diving and men's tennis have had an individual participate in their respective NCAA Championship, bringing the total NCAA appearances for FGCU to 16 since the 2011-12 season.
 
Ticket information for upcoming events is available by calling 239-590-7145. Additional results and schedule information is available at FGCUAthletics.com. Follow us on Twitter (@FGCUEagles), Facebook (/FGCUAthletics), Instagram (@FGCUAthletics) and YouTube (/FGCUAthletics).
 
FGCU Athletics sponsors events throughout the year to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.