Vans Checkerboard Day Champions Creative Self-Expression As An Outlet For Mental Wellness

To combat rising mental health concerns due to global isolation, Vans donates $1M to 10 global charities and unites the Vans Family around a shared mission of mental health and well-being

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Vans

Oct 26, 2020, 12:00 ET

COSTA MESA, Calif., Oct. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Vans, the original action sports brand and advocate for creative expression, announced today the second-annual Vans Checkerboard Day to be held on Thursday, November 19, 2020. As a global initiative established to champion the power of creative expression, following a period of global isolation, this year's Checkerboard Day will focus specifically on the vital role creativity plays in helping individuals and communities address mental health and well-being around the world.

Creative celebrations from the inaugural Vans Checkerboard Day in 2019.

"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."

Vans will support 10 charities from around the world whose shared purpose is to use programs focused on creativity as resources for coping with the stressors that impact mental health and well-being, by donating a collective $1 million. Each will receive $100,000 USD from The Vans Checkerboard Fund at Tides Foundation or via a direct donation from Vans to use towards their organization's mission to improve the mental health and well-being of youth across the globe through creativity. This year's recipients are: Get Lit-Words Ignite, The Skatepark Project, Arte Por La Vida, Social Skate, Singapore Association for Mental Health, Buku Jalanan Chow Kit, World of Art Brut Culture, Campaign Against Living Miserably, The Wave Project and The Ben Raemers Foundation.

Leading up to November 19, 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 as a resource for mental health and well-being. This will include the #VansCheckerboardDay TikTok Challenge and the opportunity to hear directly from global brand ambassadors such as Tony Hawk, Anderson .Paak, Yaya Zahir and others about how their own forms of creative self-expression have helped them.

On top of the $1 million of support by Vans, 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 and 100 percent of proceeds for each product sold will be donated to The Vans Checkerboard Fund at Tides Foundation. Fans will also be able to donate loyalty points via the Vans Family app in exchange for a monetary donation.

Fans can visit Vans.com/checkerboardday to check out Checkerboard Day merchandise, learn more about the participating charities, how to donate and impact the inaugural Vans Checkerboard Day in 2019 had for local communities. They can also follow Vans on social media to participate in the #VansCheckerboardDay TikTok challenge.

About Vans
Vans^®, a VF Corporation (NYSE: VFC) brand, is the original action sports footwear, apparel and accessories brand. Vans^® authentic collections are sold in 97 countries through a network of subsidiaries, distributors and international offices. Vans^® has over 2,000 retail locations globally including owned, concession and partnership doors. The Vans^® brand promotes creative self-expression in youth culture across action sports, art, music and street culture, and delivers progressive platforms such as the Vans Checkerboard Day, Vans Park Series, Vans Triple Crown of Surfing^®, Vans Custom Culture, and Vans' cultural hub and international music venue, House of Vans.