The nonprofit Red Sneakers for Oakley stresses the motto “Epi First, Epi Fast” to save the lives of those experiencing anaphylaxis. Now, the organization has launched the ambitious Epi Everywhere initiative. The goal: to make epinephrine easy to access in public spaces across the United States.
Epi Everywhere is just getting rolling: equipping restaurants, schools, sports venues and first responders with emergency epinephrine kits. And importantly, the program will train staff at such locations about recognizing allergic reactions and how and when to use epinephrine devices.
Many fundraising and outreach efforts hosted by Red Sneakers for Oakley (RSFO) during May (Food Allergy Awareness Month) will support Epi Everywhere.
RSFO’s signature event, of course, is May 20 – International Red Sneakers Day. This special day honors the late Oakley Debbs, who lost his life to anaphylaxis at 11 years old. The young athlete wore No. 20 on his jersey – and loved to wear red sneakers.
When red sneakers are laced up on May 20, with photos shared on social media, participants will be fueling RFSO’s mission to save lives. The annual date draws worldwide attention to the seriousness of food allergies.
With Epi Everywhere in 2026, Red Sneakers executive director Lindsey Spangler says the organization is elevating its purpose. It will not only raise food allergy awareness and education, but it will also provide the essential tool for severe food allergy reactions: epinephrine.
“We can educate you all we want, but if we don’t have the medication, we can’t save a life,” Spangler tells Allergic Living. “Everyone should be educated, everyone should be aware, and everyone now can have this lifesaving medication.”
Below, you’ll find information to share – and ways to support the program.
Florida Restaurant: Inspired by Oakley
Red Sneakers has formed the Epi Everywhere coalition alongside partners Kaléo, maker of the AUVI-Q auto-injector; MenuTrinfo, leaders in food allergy training; and Belay, the supplier of MedLocker medicine cabinets. Through RSFO’s grant program, Epi Everywhere provides epinephrine, a monitored wall-mounted medication case, and allergy training.
“The coalition’s shared mission is to eliminate preventable deaths from anaphylaxis,” Spangler says. It will do this “by ensuring that public venues have the knowledge, training, and immediate access to life-saving epinephrine.”
In West Palm Beach, the owners of La Sirena restaurant became the first Florida restaurant to join the program in February 2026. La Sirena is now anaphylaxis-ready, with a MedLocker of auto-injectors and staff fully trained on food allergies.
Marcello and Diane Fiorentino often tell customers about Oakley, who attended school with their children. His memory is clearly an inspiration.
Having epinephrine at the restaurant and properly trained staff “gives us peace of mind,” says Diane Fiorentino. “We hold our responsibility to our customers and community in the highest regard.”
Oakley is at the heart of RSFO’s efforts to bring epinephrine and awareness to more public spaces. The boy, who was allergic to nuts and had asthma, tragically died of a severe allergic reaction in November 2016. A piece of cake Oakley had eaten was later found to contain tree nut.
His parents, Merrill and Robert Debbs, treated their son’s reaction as they had with previous reactions, with antihistamines and then his nebulizer. They had been wrongly advised that Oakley’s nut allergy was “minor.” Tragically, Oakley fell into anaphylactic shock and lost his life.
Now, the Debbs, and their daughter Olivia (Oakley’s twin), 20, are working relentlessly to broaden food allergy education and epinephrine access in Oakley’s memory.
Epi Everywhere: How You Can Support
The national initiative to increase access to epinephrine and food allergy training in public spaces got its start in Peoria, Illinois. A model to equip several Peoria locations became the basis for taking the program national.
Spangler and Chris Horan co-founded the support group Red Sneakers for Food Allergy Awareness – Peoria, a chapter of the Red Sneakers nonprofit. Then they created the epinephrine access model.
Peoria-area locations that are food allergy-ready include the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex, the Peoria Chiefs’ minor league baseball team, Clink Bar and Events restaurant, plus the police department.
“It’s a testament to who steps up to the plate to help,” Merrill Debbs says of being able to build on something that started with advocates in one chapter. “It takes a team. It takes drive and believing in what you are doing.”
Participating organizations and restaurants receive AUVI-Q epinephrine devices, a MedLocker for public access, and AllerTrain comprehensive food allergy and anaphylaxis training for staff.
A grant program, funded by donors and fundraising events, is designated for Epi Everywhere. For example, $1,000 can equip a restaurant, $4,000 can protect a college, and $10,000 is enough to equip 25 police officers, Spangler says. Grant applications and information about how to make a donation are found on the Red Sneakers’ website.
While the grants for 2026 have already been fulfilled, interested restaurants and organizations can apply for 2027. Those wanting the epinephrine kits without using a grant can also purchase the tools and training.
Allergy Awareness and Access
Epi Everywhere is already making a difference, with many more locations coming. Importantly, RSFO will soon announce an initiative to provide epinephrine emergency kits and training to 71 Horizons National locations across the U.S. The organization offers summer programs for kids and before- and after-school programs.
On May 1, the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island, became a high-profile Epi Everywhere location. Several wall-mounted epinephrine cases are in place at the large sports venue, which includes multiple tennis courts and a museum.
Spangler explains that food allergy awareness will reach visitors from all over the world as the popular sporting site hosts professional tennis events. Of note, tennis stars Roger Federer and Mary Carillo will be inducted into the Hall of Fame during this August’s ceremony.
The Tennis Hall of Fame is just the beginning for allergy awareness in Newport. See this sidebar article about Red Sneakers’ work in the coastal city.
May 20: International Red Sneakers Day
Also in Rhode Island, World Cup legends and Olympians kicked off events to honor International Red Sneakers Day. Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly and Tisha Venturini-Hoch were on hand to lead a May 3 soccer clinic at St. George’s School in Middletown, RI. This is the second year in a row they’ve led the clinic.
RFSO will keep that momentum going for International Red Sneakers Day on May 20.
Anyone can take part in the big day by wearing red sneakers or anything red, and posting photos on social media. Posts can include a personal story, food allergy fact, or information about Oakley’s story. If you decide to host an awareness event, Red Sneakers is happy to help with planning. Just email [email protected].
Don’t forget to use hashtags: #internationalredsneakersday, #redsneakersforoakley, #foodallergyawareness, #livlikeoaks, #anaphylaxisawareness. Please tag @redsneakersforoakley on Facebook and Instagram. For X, use @oakley_red.
Spangler says the aim is “to get the most that we can of people wearing red and doing amazing things in the food allergy community.”
Building the Ambassador Program
Several events held in honor of International Red Sneakers Day are driven by the nonprofit’s ambassadors.
In New Jersey, ambassador Jennie Masters hosted a food allergy awareness walk on May 2, with a silent auction, allergy education, and a musical performance. In California, youth ambassador Allergic Emma will host the fifth annual Food Allergy Awareness Event on May 9.
Meantime in Mississippi, ambassadors Rebekah Wallace and Amaya Doyle will host a Red Sneakers for Oakley Day on May 20.
Those advocates are among more than 500 ambassadors who have headed community events since the RFSO program started. Fifty-four new ambassadors have come on board so far in 2026. “We want people who really, truly want to spread awareness and help bring our mission to every community,” Spangler says.
The ambassador program now includes three levels to apply for.
- Level 1: Fundraise and spread awareness through social media and awareness activities. Fundraising goal: $250.
- Level 2: People who want to do more in their community, such as get epinephrine in the schools or restaurants. Fundraising goal: $1,500.
- Level 3: Create and lead a chapter, requires experience as a Level 2 ambassador. Fundraising goal: $25,000. (There are no ambassadors currently at this level.)
The ambassador program also has expanded to include high school and college clubs. “These ambassadors are helping bring our mission to the community, helping bring Epi Everywhere to their community,” Spangler says.
Related Reading:
Learn more about the Epi Everywhere Program here.
Read all about International Red Sneakers Day here.
