In an effort to combat rising mental health concerns due to global isolation, original action sports brand Vans is donating 1 million dollars to 10 global charities. Each organization will receive 100,000 USD to further their mission. This year’s recipients are:
Campaign Against Living Miserably, The Wave Project, The Ben Raemers Foundation, Get Lit-Words Ignite, The Skatepark Project, Arte Por La Vida, Social Skate, Singapore Association for Mental Health, Buku Jalanan Chow Kit and World of Art Brut Culture.
The donation is part of Vans Checkerboard Day (19th November), a global initiative launched in 2019 to champion the power of creativity in helping people improve their mental health.
“We’ve spent much of the year apart. And it’s been tough. But despite the isolation, both physically and psychologically, we are and always will be a Vans Family, forever connected by creativity,” says Doug Palladini, Vans Global Brand President. “A recent study by Complex showed that in the U.S. alone, half of today’s youth are more stressed and anxious now than before COVID-19 started. Through the power of creativity, our mission for Vans Checkerboard Day 2020 will be to show that smaller acts of expression can make a big impact on our personal and collective well-being.”
Creative celebrations from the inaugural Vans Checkerboard Day in 2019
Leading up to November 19th, Vans will rally global fans to participate in a variety of digital brand initiatives focused on uplifting and driving awareness for the power of creative self-expression. This will include the opportunity to hear directly from global brand ambassadors such as Tony Hawk, Anderson .Paak, Yaya Zahir and more about how their own forms of creative self-expression have helped them.
Fans across the globe will also have the ability to support the 10 regional charities by helping to raise additional donations. They can do so by purchasing a limited-edition Vans Checkerboard Day t-shirt or pair of Authentics designed by renowned artist and Vans brand ambassador Geoff McFetridge. 100 percent of proceeds for each product sold will be donated to The Vans Checkerboard Fund at Tides Foundation.
Fans can visit Vans.eu/checkerboardday for more updates.