Baltimore-based Under Armour plans to donate nearly 1,600 pairs of boots to members of the Baltimore Fire Department for its members' personal use.
The donation of 1,596 desert sand-colored men's Under Armour Valsetz RTS Tactical Boots is valued at $192,000. It's set to be approved by the city's Board of Estimates Wednesday.
The donation was unsolicited and permitted under city rules because Under Armour does not do business with the Fire Department, city officials said.
Fire Chief Niles Ford said the boots would encourage fitness among the agency's approximately 1,500 firefighters and paramedics.
"We are very pleased that Under Armour is donating these boots to the BCFD for members' personal use and for the support that the BCFD has received from Under Armour promoting members' fitness," Ford said in a statement. "I think this is another example of Under Armour's commitment to being an outstanding and passionate corporate citizen here in the City of Baltimore."
Under Armour did not respond to requests for comment.
It's the second such gift in recent months for the company, which is planning a large expansion into Port Covington. In January, the city's spending panel cleared the way for Under Armour to give the Baltimore Police Department new uniforms for officers in one district. The project is described in city documents as a "collaboration" between the police and Under Armour to "potentially improve the quality and durability of police uniforms and relieve some strain on the Police Department budget."
The company features tactical and military gear on its website, and has won $4.2 million in contracts from the U.S. Department of Defense.
Kevin Plank, Under Armour's founder, helped build his business by giving samples of his compression T-shirts to football players. Under Armour's goal is to grow from $3 billion in sales to $10 billion eventually, he told The Baltimore Sun last year.
Under Armour also has a history of making charitable contributions in Baltimore.
In October, the company helped pay about $42,000 for the renovation of three Fire Department gyms. The company also joined the Baltimore Community Foundation and the Baltimore Police Foundation in 2011 in donating $300,000 for the Southern District to buy equipment, including 30 desktop computers, eight police bicycles, gym upgrades, 20 Tasers and other items.
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