Red Sneakers for Oakley is taking a popular Rhode Island seaside city by storm with its Epi Everywhere: Newport Initiative. Even the mayor is stepping up to help the nonprofit organization bring emergency epinephrine kits and training to public spaces in Newport.
Newport Mayor Charles Holder issued a proclamation declaring May 20, 2026, “Allergy-Friendly City Day”. The date is International Red Sneakers Day, held each year in memory of the late Oakley Debbs, who lost his life to anaphylaxis.
“Newport is a really good spot to bring in this food allergy education because it is a destination for so many people,” Merrill Debbs tells Allergic Living. Merrill and Robert Debbs, along with their daughter Olivia (Oakley’s twin), are the founders of Red Sneakers for Oakley (RSFO).
In the proclamation, Holder, urges Newport restaurants and other establishments to work with Red Sneakers to complete training, become equipped with epinephrine, and promote food allergy safety.
“Strengthening food allergy safety across the city will enhance public health, increase visitor confidence, and reinforce Newport’s reputation as a family friendly coastal community,” it states.
Bringing Epi to Newport
The mayor issued the proclamation on April 30 during the organization’s visit to Newport to launch the Epi Everywhere initiative in the coastal city. It also states that Newport recognizes the importance of fostering a safe, inclusive environment for all, “including those with life-threatening food allergies.”
The Red Sneakers Newport visit brought epinephrine and training to area restaurants, a hotel, a private club and the International Tennis Hall of Fame, says Red Sneakers executive director Lindsey Spangler. Bringing Epi Everywhere to the high-profile Hall of Fame is an integral part of making Newport an allergy-aware destination city, notes Merrill Debbs.
Other key Newport locations that received epinephrine emergency kits and training include: Clarke Cooke House, Flora Restaurant, Gardiner House Hotel and Picnic Bakery and Cafe.
Boutique shops CK Bradley and J. McLaughlin also participated in the efforts to make Newport allergy aware, holding a Sip & Shop fundraiser. (A portion of the proceeds support Epi Everywhere.)
RSFO’s partners on Epi Everywhere are auto-injector maker Kaléo, food trainers MenuTrinfo, and Belay, the medicine cabinet supplier.
Mayor Holder saw firsthand the work Red Sneakers is doing, when he joined the advocates and local restaurants for their training session at the Clarke Cooke House. The restaurant also hosted a VIP event with U.S. soccer legends, who were there to support Red Sneakers’ mission.
Olympian Soccer Clinic
World Cup and Olympic stars Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly, and Tisha Venturini Hoch used their soccer skills to help bring food allergy awareness to the Newport area. The soccer stars led a Red Sneakers soccer clinic on May 3 for the second year in a row.
RSFO partnered with the Team First Soccer Academy (founded by the three Olympians), and St. George’s School in Middletown, Rhode Island for the event. Olivia Debbs, now a student at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, played soccer on the varsity team while she attended St. George’s.
The food allergy-friendly event for 150 kids featured elite level training, autograph-signing with the soccer stars and epinephrine training.
“It was a great awareness opportunity to bring the whole community together, and also to educate non-food allergy families,” Debbs says.
Related Reading:
Red Sneakers Day 2026: Learn about here, plus Epi Everywhere Steps Up for Food Allergy Safety
Red Sneakers 2025: Soccer Champs Hold Clinic to Support RFSO Mission
