Bears Chairman George H. McCaskey, President and CEO Kevin Warren, general manager Ryan Poles, and head coach Ben Johnson, are all participating in the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative this weekend.

The annual program allows individuals to sport cleats and shoes that raise awareness for charities, causes and organizations that are important to them.

The Bears have continued to expand the initiative across the entire organization. For the third consecutive year, the club invited front office staff, coaches and football personnel to design their own custom Nike Air Force 1's in partnership with Chicago-based Sneakerhead University. Artists from Sneakerhead University worked alongside Bears staff throughout the customization process, helping them translate ideas, memories and personal passions into art.

"When Kevin expanded it a couple years ago from just the players and coaches to all staff, people got very excited," McCaskey said. "It is an opportunity for individuals here at the Bears to showcase causes that are important to them, and we support that."

This year, Warren is supporting Lurie Children's Hospital, along with his wife, Greta, who volunteers at Lurie's on a weekly basis. The nationally ranked pediatric children's hospital in Chicago holds 360 beds and provides provides comprehensive pediatric specialties and subspecialties to infants, children, teens and young adults.

Lurie Children's Hospital is the type of facility that Warren wishes he could have been treated at when he spent months in a body cast after being hit by a car while riding his bicycle when he was 10 years old.

"I was hospitalized in a normal hospital," he said. "It would have been really incredible to be in a children's hospital."

Warren also chose Lurie's because he is "passionate about children and my family understands the negative impact that cancer has had on all of our lives in some form or fashion, either directly or people who we love and appreciate."

"That is why when you can combine children and cancer care in an environment that does it the right way, it really is special," said Warren. "Lurie Children's Hospital provides great resources to all people, regardless of their background, their color, their religious beliefs."

Last year, Kevin and Greta supported their Warren Family Foundation, which embraces, educates and empowers youth in the community through ready-access opportunities that expand their worldview.

McCaskey is supporting "Girls on the Run Chicago," a non-profit organization that designs programming that strengthens third- to eighth-grade girls' social, emotional, physical and behavioral skills to successfully navigate life experiences by building confidence, kindness and decision-making skills.

McCaskey empowered the Bears' Young Professionals Employee Resource Group to help him choose an organization.

Once again, McCaskey's and Warren's shoes were designed and painted by Bears partnership activation specialist Danica Lopez, who also did so the previous two seasons.

Poles and his wife, Katie, are supporting The Family Institute at Northwestern University. The organization provides compassionate, evidence-based care for individuals, couples, children and families through research, education and therapy.

"Katie and I are proud to represent The Family Institute at Northwestern University as our cause for this year's My Cause My Cleats initiative," Poles said. "The Family Institute does an amazing job of providing opportunities for adults and children to get the mental health support they need, and the lives they are able to impact touches not only us, but the entire Chicagoland community."

Johnson is supporting Bears Care, the organization's charitable arm. Since its inception in 1995, Bears Care has been committed to improving the quality of life for people in the Chicagoland community, especially disadvantaged children and their families. It supports education, youth athletics and medical research and health awareness programs focusing on breast and ovarian cancer.

Bears Care has issued grants totaling over $31.6 million to more than 200 qualifying agencies since 2006.

"It is an honor to represent Bears Care for My Cause My Cleats this year," Johnson said. "The money they raise and the lives they touch in our community is felt every day, and I am proud to support the efforts they put forth to provide awareness and opportunities for those in need."

Warren is inspired by the My Cause My Cleats initiative, both for what it provides for the participants as well as those who benefit from the charitable causes and organizations.

"I just think it allows us to remember the importance of relationships and the importance of the positive impact that we can have from a community standpoint," Warren said, "and also to remember the importance of how many people are really struggling in this world. Any time we can message to the world through this platform of the Chicago Bears with the support and leadership of George McCaskey and the entire McCaskey family makes it really special."