US speciality retailer Gap Inc is stepping up its commitment to sustainability with a pledge to use more sustainable fibres in the production of its namesake and Athleta brand apparel within the next five years.

UK consumer confidence remained broadly in line with the three year average in the first quarter of 2017, falling by one percentage point as rising cost pressures took hold, new figures show.

As part of its commitment to create 1m pairs of shoes made from up-cycled marine plastic by the end of the year, German sportswear giant Adidas has revealed it will launch three new Parley running shoes next month.

Adidas, Reebok, Marks & Spencer and Hennes & Mauritz (H&M) have topped a transparency index launched last year to monitor and rank high street clothing brands on transparency across their value chains.

More than 1,700 young athletes gathered over the weekend to run, jump, throw and have fun during the 12th annual Foundation Games at Fred Kelly Stadium.

Hosted by the Community Foundation of Orange, this year’s games were one of the biggest yet, drawing students from elementary and middle schools to participate in a host of track and field events.

Started as a revival of the city’s former “Dash for D.A.R.E.” track meet, the annual two-day event was made possible through the help of 350 volunteers.

Susie Cunningham, executive director of the Community Foundation, said one of the games’ charms is the transformation of the students who compete.

Many with no prior interest in athletics have discovered unknown talents and now lead their high school teams, she said. “They leave here different than they came.”

One such student is Ben Hepner, a sophomore at El Modena High School.

Hepner started in the games as a first grader – he said he remembers not having very high expectations, but to his surprise, he took first place in every event he participated in. Hepner went on to compete in the games for nine years, and then returned for the last two years as a volunteer.

“I’m so excited to help the little kids, because I was in their spot years ago,” Hepner said. “I’m hoping they get the same enjoyment out of it that I do.”

For some students, the impact of the games isn’t in taking home medals, but getting a chance to be part of a team.

Orange’s Skyview Elementary School, which serves homeless children, had 11 students participate, eight of whom won medals. Skyview Site Liaison Diane Estill said for many of the students, this is the only chance they’ve had to participate in an organized sports event – several were given shoes so they can compete.

Estill said she’s seen new friendships forged through friendly competition – being on a team has turned at-odds students into fast friends, she said.

“There’s times where you kind of have a misfit type kid who is kind of the nerd of the group and might be picked on or treated poorly during the year,” Estill said. “When they become part of the team, all of a sudden you see the kids who might not have been very kind to them cheering them on and getting enthusiastic.”

For other kids, it’s not about winning or making new friends, but pushing themselves to try something new. Community Foundation of Orange Board member Moira Singer remembers one case she said left a lasting impact on her.

“One of our students was in a very long race, a full lap behind everyone else. Everyone finished, people were chatting and then they realized there was still a little boy out there,” Singer said. “He just kept plugging away, and when he got to the finish line, it was the biggest cheer I’ve ever heard. He just kept going – he had the biggest smile on his face. I think about him when I’ve got something tough to do.”

Buena Park senior-to-be wide receiver/defensive back Devon Cooley (6-2, 180) has been offered by Purdue, Coyotes offensive coordinator Jude Oliva reports.

Cooley has been heavily recruited and stood out at the recent Nike The Opening regional at El Camino College.

He was offered by Oregon in January and also holds offers from UCLA and Colorado among others.

Last season, Cooley had 29 receptions for 434 yards and six touchdowns.

Please send football recruiting news to Dan Albano at dalbano@scng.com or @ocvarsityguy on Twitter

Shoppers, are you ready to buy goods from a 6-year-old entrepreneur?

The Orange County Rescue Mission will host its second annual “OC Children’s Business Fair” from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 29 at the Rescue Mission’s Village of Hope in Tustin.

“For many children, including those who live at the Village of Hope, this event will be their first opportunity to learn how creativity and hard work can contribute to their futures in business,” Jim Palmer, president of the Orange County Rescue Mission, said in a statement.

The fair will feature 63 booths, each hosted by children ages 6-14. Some of the participants live at the Rescue Mission’s Village of Hope, and others are bringing their entrepreneurial ideas from all over Orange County.

“In addition to learning the basics of how to create their own business, these children are given valuable insights on important life skills, such as how to set a budget, create a business plan, and provide customer service,” Palmer explained. “These principles provide essential building blocks that will help children understand that their dreams of success really are within reach.”

Palmer said the mission has a record-high number of children living on-site at the Village of Hope.

The Rescue Mission is part of a privately funded nonprofit organization that provides provide food assistance and shelter in addition to counseling, education, job training, mental wellness, life skills training, and medical services.

The event is sponsored by the California Policy Center, ORCO Block & Hardscape, The Lincoln Club, Crevier Classic Cars, and several other donors from the local community.

It is part of a larger Children’s Business Fair event, created by Acton Academy and the Acton School of Business, which is the largest entrepreneurship event for children in North America.

For more information about the OC Children’s Business Fair, go to tustincbf.com or contact Ashley Binder at 714-247-4343.

It was 2 a.m. when Ross Chun started walking.

Chun had agreed to walk laps in the early morning hours in Aliso Viejo to show that cancer never sleeps — a symbolic gesture where there’s at least one person walking at a Relay for Life event at all times.

An Aliso Viejo resident and city councilman since 2012, Chun said the late-night walking was worth it.

“It was like a carnival,” he recalled. “Everyone was having a good time, walking laps and eating lasagna.”

“You really walk away with that feeling that you did a lot for a very important cause,” he added.

With event co-chair Gayle Paride, Chun will be on hand at Laguna Niguel City Hall on Tuesday, May 2 to kick off fundraising season for Relay for Life, a walking-based research fundraiser and celebration for cancer survivors.

The event, which features cancer survivor Alexis Morgan and Laguna Niguel Mayor Jerry Slusiewicz as guest speakers, is being held more than three months in advance of the actual relay at Niguel Hills Middle School. The goal of the kickoff is to tell the public about the event.

Paride has had several family members get diagnosed with cancer, including a sister who died from breast cancer several decades ago. She said the event is “phenomenal” and that “it’s an opportunity to help raise funds for an organization that has made some phenomenal inroads in research.”

“Hopefully my children never have to hear those words: ‘You have cancer,’ ” she said.

Paride said this year’s relay will run from 4 to 10 p.m. on Aug. 19 in an attempt to avoid the peak summer heat hours. She said Newport Beach is also following the shortened model.

In addition to walking at odd hours, Chun said one of his favorite memories was inviting his sister-in-law who had cancer to a relay event.

“For her, it was an eye-opener that all of these things were available to cancer patients,” Ross recalled.

He said eventgoers helped his sister-in-law with all the questions she had.

“She left with this incredible feeling of hope and optimism.”

For more information, visit relayforlife.org.

Tampa Bay didn’t just draft a kicker in the second round. They traded up to draft a kicker in the second round.

On the second day of the 2016 NFL draft, the Buccaneers gave away two picks to take Roberto Aguayo out of Florida State at No. 59 overall, making him the highest-drafted kicker in over a decade. This was not a good decision.

Aguayo, who left the Seminoles as the most accurate kicker in NCAA history, proceeded to miss his first preseason PAT. He then missed two of his first three field goal attempts in the regular season, as well as another two in Week 5 before his 38-yard game-winner against the Panthers as time expired. By the end of the year, he had made just 71 percent of his field goal tries, the worst mark in the league for anyone with more than two attempts.

“Read the stats,” Bucs general manager Jason Licht told the Tampa Bay Times last month. “He wasn’t very good last year.”

Aguayo will now compete with veteran Nick Folk for the starting job in 2017, and the team is ready to cut ties with whoever loses out. The lesson? Don’t reach in the draft for pure specialists.

Six punters and kickers were selected as Pro Bowl starters or alternates last season, including Rams punter Johnny Hekker. Of those, only one – Kansas City punter Dustin Colquitt – was chosen within the first 200 picks of his respective draft. Four weren’t selected at all, signing instead with their teams as free agents.

This isn’t to say that special teams contributors are never worth drafting. Last season, receiver Tyreek Hill dropped to the fifth round, his stock depressed by his history of domestic violence. To be specific, he pleaded guilty to domestic abuse by strangulation, having choked his girlfriend who was two months pregnant with their child. He apologized, but that cloud continues to make some fans uncomfortable rooting for him – even as he became a unanimous All-Pro punt returner as a rookie.

This year’s special teams prospects aren’t as morally vexing.

There is Michigan’s Jabrill Peppers, who played out of position last season at linebacker, worked out at both linebacker and safety at the NFL combine, and could potentially transition to offense in the NFL. Oh, and he ranked fifth in the country with 14.8 yards per punt return.

There is USC’s Adoree’ Jackson, who wasn’t named a Heisman finalist despite returning kickoffs and punts for four touchdowns. Factor in five interceptions and spot duty as a receiver, and that added up to 1,273 all-purpose yards.

Both will likely be gone by the end of the second round, because both will almost certainly add value beyond special teams.

The kickers and punters? They can probably step away from the phone until Saturday.

JABRILL PEPPERS, MICHIGAN

At 5-foot-11, 213 pounds, Peppers is likely too small to be a linebacker. But he managed only one interception in college, so teams wonder about his potential as a safety – especially with his dearth of college film at that position. He also rushed for five touchdowns in two seasons at Michigan, and there’s a chance he could see offensive snaps in the NFL.

But regardless of his eventual position, Peppers is capable of stepping in and instantly upgrading someone’s return game.

“He has been a superstar his whole life,” Chargers coach Anthony Lynn told reporters last month. “I don’t think it is going to stop because of the National Football League.”

ADOREE’ JACKSON, USC

Jackson still needs to develop as a defensive back, though it’s hard to fault his play-making prowess. In a blowout win over Notre Dame last November, the 5-foot-10 corner scored three times in three different ways: a 97-yard kickoff return, a 55-yard punt return and a 52-yard catch and run. That highlight-reel ability should show through immediately on special teams.

ZANE GONZALEZ, ARIZONA STATE

Gonzalez closed his ASU career in style, winning the Lou Groza Award as college football’s top kicker, becoming the third All-American in school history, and making more career field goals (96) than any FBS player before him. He was also reliable from long range, making 13 of 15 of his attempts from at least 40 yards out.

AUSTIN REHKOW, IDAHO

Rehkow handled punts, field goals and kickoffs for the Vandals, though he’ll likely make his money fighting for field position. A former Ray Guy Award finalist, he landed 26 of 56 punts inside the 20-yard line last season with just three touchbacks.

This is the last of a 10-part series previewing every position group before the 2017 NFL draft. The series previously covered quarterbacks, running backs, receivers, tight ends, offensive linemen, interior defensive linemen, edge rushers, inside linebackers and defensive backs.

“I wanted to identify three different brides, different types of women: one that is clean and classic, another very traditional and romantic and the final one, a bit more avant-garde and high-fashion,” explained Austin Scarlett at his bridal preview.
The Deitrich, a crepe V-neck sheath with an illusion back, for the minimal bride; the Lillian, an off-the-shoulder slipper satin flared trumpet gown for the traditional bride, and the Bernadette ballgown for the more daring bride in slipper satin and bonded satin panels on a tulle full skirt.

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