A Park, a Pair of Gold Shoes, and the Power of Active Commitment

by Sharana Gatpandan

Featured: Giovanni Cafiso (left), Duke Holland (middle), Leah Hay (right)

On January 10, a quiet winter morning at Healy Heights Park transformed into something far warmer than the weather suggested.

From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., neighbors gathered—some with arms full of coats, others simply curious—drawn in by a familiar presence and a shared purpose. This marked the 5th Annual Community Drive hosted by Giovanni Cafiso, owner of Park Lane Luxury and advisor with Cascade Hasson Sotheby’s International Realty.

A Community That Knows Him

Giovanni’s community drives have never followed a single format. Over the years, they’ve taken many forms—paint drives, food drives, tech drives, and more—each designed to meet a different need at a different moment.

What has remained the same is the way Gio shows up.

Each year, he personally rents the truck.
Each year, he delivers the donations himself.
Each year, the time, logistics, and cost are his own.

And each year, people are eager to return—often reaching out in advance, asking what the next drive will be and how they can help.

Friends, family, clients, neighbors—even passersby—stopped by throughout the afternoon. One man brought coats from home and, inspired to do more, set aside time to purchase new ones too.

Others came not just to donate, but to connect. Neighbors shared stories of Gio helping them outside the event itself—like the time he helped an elderly woman walk home through icy conditions weeks earlier.

The park sits near Gio’s own residence, but the way people greeted him made one thing clear: this wasn’t a community by proximity—it was a community built by trust.

View Gio’s 2026 Coat Drive in action!

Familiarity That Builds Trust

For Gio, community involvement isn’t separate from his professional life—it’s deeply connected to it.

“People recognize the Sotheby’s name,” Gio shared. “It carries familiarity. And sometimes, that familiarity helps open doors in unexpected ways.”

That sentiment was echoed by Duke Holland, Volunteer Coordinator at Portland Rescue Mission (PRM).

“I recognize the Sotheby’s name,” Duke said. “It’s everywhere.”

It was this shared familiarity that set the stage for a story no one could have predicted.

The Gold Nike Shoes

Around three years ago, something unexpected appeared among winter coats and donated essentials at the Portland Rescue Mission center: a pair of gold Nike Air Jordan 3 Retro ‘Spike Lee Oscars’ sneakers.

Designed by legendary Nike designer Tinker Hatfield, the shoes were worn by Spike Lee at the 2019 Academy Awards during the presentation of BlacKkKlansman. Only a handful of pairs exist.

The sneakers entered Portland Rescue Mission through a donation bin at its Burnside shelter—dropped anonymously, like countless other items intended to help someone in need.

One man, actively participating in the Mission’s recovery program, noticed them gleaming in near-perfect condition at the bottom of the bin.

They looked valuable.

In that moment, he could have quietly set them aside. Instead, guided by the honesty and integrity he was rebuilding through the program, he brought the shoes to his PRM mentor. That small decision set off a remarkable chain of events.

When the shoes were taken to a local thrift store, the clerk immediately recognized their value and offered $25,000 for them. But, acting with integrity himself, he advised that the shoes could be worth significantly more if sold at auction.

The Mission then contacted Sotheby’s Auction House in New York. Tinker Hatfield personally authenticated the shoes and, after learning their story, signed a replacement Nike box—further strengthening their provenance.

In December 2023, Sotheby’s auctioned the pair for $50,800, with 100% of the hammer price benefiting the Portland Rescue Mission.

View item on Sotheby’s

Dignity at the Center

The man who first discovered the shoes has since completed the Portland Rescue Mission’s full continuum of care—graduating from the Burnside program, the Harbor men’s recovery program, and the advanced aftercare program focused on employment, stability, and long-term success.

Today, he’s thriving.

As Duke shared, Portland Rescue Mission’s work is rooted in dignity, trust, and relationship—not quick fixes. From on-site clothing boutiques that allow program participants to choose clothing with pride, to mentorship, recovery support, and peer leadership, the goal is restoration paired with long-term support—helping individuals reenter the world with renewed confidence, a fresh perspective on life, and the ability to support others in their own journeys forward.

“They’re not a problem to solve,” Duke explained. “They’re peers. They’re friends. They’re part of our shared community.”

Why This Story Matters

The gold shoes may be rare—but the values behind this story are not.

Selflessness. Honesty. Perseverance. Active commitment.

Selflessness appeared when the individual sorting donations chose to act for the greater good.

Honesty showed itself when the thrift shop clerk advised that the shoes were worth more at auction.

Perseverance carried the story forward when PRM took the extra step in contacting Sotheby’s, traveling to New York, and shepherding the process every step of the way.

Active commitment came full circle when Sotheby’s handled the shoes with profound care, authenticated their history, and presented them on its global stage.

This story is a reminder that impact isn’t always planned, and big change sometimes starts in complete silence. But a small, thoughtful action—taken at just the right moment—can set off a chain of good that reaches far beyond imagination.