MAM
Adidas to make charity contribution to Agassi Foundation
MUMBAI: Tennis icon Andre Agassi and Adidas announced that for every pair of ‘mi’ Adidas shoes sold at the NY Sport Performance store through the duration of the US Open, $100 will go directly to the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation.
In his first public appearance as an Adidas partner, Agassi immortalised his handprints in concrete in front of a large crowd of fans in the flagship Adidas Sport Performance store in Houston.
To demonstrate the MI Adidas technology, Agassi went through the program to create his own fully customised pair of MI Adidas tennis shoes.
Founded in 1994, the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation (AACF) was created to provide recreational and educational opportunities for at-risk children in Southern Nevada.
Since its inception, the Foundation has supported more than 20 organisations and raised more than $50 million for programs designed to enhance a child’s character, self-esteem and career possibilities.
In 2001, the AACF opened the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy — a public charter school conceived on the belief that nothing has a greater impact on a child’s life than the education they receive. Located in the heart of Las Vegas’ most at-risk neighborhood, the AACPA is designed to improve skill levels and combat lowered academic expectations while creating a climate of hope among this community’s most challenged children. The curriculum emphasises technology and college preparation while encouraging involvement in community affairs.
The MI Adidas program includes product experts, a complete range of shoes in different sizes and widths for try-on, and equipment to analyse each foot. First, the feet are measured to determine the best length and width options.
Next, Adidas uses its Footscan system, which determines pressure distribution of each foot, along with athlete preferences, to determine the performance characteristics of the shoe. Once the proper fit and function have been determined, the customer can create a uniquely designed pair of shoes by selecting the colors and even stitching a personalised monogram onto the shoe. The finished shoe is delivered to the retail partner approximately three weeks later.
Launched globally in 2000 with soccer shoes, running shoes were added to MI Adidas in 2001, followed by tennis shoes in 2002. MI Adidas customised footwear technology is currently only available in the US at the New York Adidas Sport Performance store.
MAM
Time brings TIME100 Next franchise to India with Reliance
List to spotlight 100 emerging leaders, gala set for December 2026 in Mumbai.
MUMBAI: It’s about time India’s next wave got a global spotlight and now, it’s on the list. New York-headquartered Time is expanding its TIME100 Next franchise to India, partnering with Reliance Industries Limited to launch TIME100 Next India, its first international extension of the rising leaders platform. The announcement was made at the Time100 Gala in New York by Jessica Sibley and Nita Mukesh Ambani, signalling a strategic push to tap into India’s growing influence across sectors.
The India edition will recognise 100 emerging leaders from the country and the global Indian diaspora, spanning business, science, sports, arts and social impact. The list will be curated by Time’s editorial team and published online, continuing the franchise’s focus on identifying individuals shaping the future.
The initiative will culminate in a gala event scheduled for December 2026 at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, anchoring the platform within India’s cultural and business ecosystem.
TIME’s broader Time100 franchise has steadily expanded its global footprint since 2021 through events and impact-led initiatives. Executives noted that India’s growing pool of influential voices and innovators made it a natural next step for the platform’s international ambitions.
For Reliance, the partnership aligns with its broader push to support emerging talent and ideas on a global stage. For Time, it marks a timely bet on India not just as a market, but as a talent engine shaping the next chapter of global leadership.
