This year, we’ll be donating an additional $25,000 in scholarships to DoSomething.org. You can donate points through Vans Family to help support our Checkerboard Fund.
CELEBRATE CREATIVITY IN MORE WAYS, WITH MORE PEOPLE, IN MORE PLACES.
TOGETHER MAKES IT BETTER.
TOGETHER MAKES IT BETTER.
About
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History
Vans Checkerboard Day
When our co-founder, Paul Van Doren established Vans in 1966 alongside his brother and two business partners, he did so with the belief that we weren’t to be just a footwear and apparel company but a people company that makes shoes and apparel. This mission to be people first has served as a cornerstone commitment for our brand for the past 55 years and has only strengthened as we’ve continued to launch initiatives that focus on enabling creative self-expression that support, uplift and empower members of our Vans family across the world to drive positive change within our communities.
As the brand’s single largest philanthropic initiative, Vans will support 16 charities from around the world who share a mission of revitalizing public spaces through arts, sports, culture and social impact programming by donating a collective $1 million USD. Each regional organization will receive $50,000 USD from The Vans Checkerboard Fund at Tides Foundation or via a direct donation from Vans to use towards their organization’s mission to continue their work around the world to build vibrant, inclusive, and welcoming spaces to support their local communities.
How to donate
Vans Checkerboard Fund
Tik Tok Challenge
Community Organizations
This year, we’ll be donating an additional $25,000 in scholarships to DoSomething.org. You can donate points through Vans Family to help support our Checkerboard Fund.
VANS X DOSOMETHING.ORG
This year, we’ve partnered with DoSomething.org. As the largest not-for-profit exclusively for young people and social change, DoSomething is activating members to share their unique creative expression from Sports to Music to Art in public places to help uplift and build community.
Around the world we’re funding community activations through fifteen additional nonprofit partners. Check out all of our Checkerboard Day activities and join us!
DOSOMETHING.ORG
Share your unique creative expression from Sports to Music to Art in public places to help uplift and build community. We’ll award the most creative submissions that truly aim to bring their community together.
Learn more.
GOODPUSH
We’re teaming up with skate organizations across the country including The Skate Park Project,, Skate Like a Girl, Community Push, Harold Hunter Foundation, and Skate Philly, to do everything from making new park obstacles to hosting a popup festival. Check out all of the activations taking place across the US on November 18th.
Learn more.
COLECTIVO TOMATE
Through the use of artistic and cultural tools, Vans and Colectivo Tomate alongside the surrounding neighborhoods will transform a skatepark in Mexico City to keep the local skateboarding scene thriving while inviting the community to meet, and enjoy the creation of mural paintings, art workshops and skateboarding showcases.
When: 10 AM CST​
Where: Skatepark Pantitlan "Piedrita"
Learn more.
SUSTAINABLE COASTLINES
This Checkerboard Day, SCH is aiming to create a stir through artivism. ​We’re creating an interactive art piece about plastic pollution. Join us for a beach cleanup at Waikiki Beach and learn more about the art piece.
When: 10am-5pm (HST)​
Where: Waikiki Beach
Learn more.
NATIONS SKATE YOUTH
Nations Skate will invite the community to enjoy a full day of programming at the Museum of Vancouver. With the recent installation of the ‘Boarder X’ exhibit and donation of the Vans mini ramp, Nations will allow open access to the exhibit and open skate with Nations Skate. The evening will be followed by a premiere of the new Nations Island video.
When: 10AM-8PM​
Where: Museum of Vancouver
Learn more.
GROUNDSWELL
We’ll be making a new mural at Middle School 664 in Brooklyn, There will also be a printmaking activation to get our local community of kids involved. Join us on Nov 18th.
When: 12:30 - 5:30 pm EST
Where: MS 664 Brooklyn, NY
Learn more.
GLOBAL ORGANIZATIONS
Around the world we’re funding community activations through fifteen additional nonprofit partners. Check out all of our Checkerboard Day activities and join us!
DOSOMETHING.ORG
Share your unique creative expression from Sports to Music to Art in public places to help uplift and build community. We’ll award the most creative submissions that truly aim to bring their community together.
Learn more.
GOODPUSH
We’re teaming up with skate organizations across the country including The Skate Park Project,, Skate Like a Girl, Community Push, Harold Hunter Foundation, and Skate Philly, to do everything from making new park obstacles to hosting a popup festival. Check out all of the activations taking place across the US on November 18th.
Learn more.
COLECTIVO TOMATE
Through the use of artistic and cultural tools, Vans and Colectivo Tomate alongside the surrounding neighborhoods will transform a skatepark in Mexico City to keep the local skateboarding scene thriving while inviting the community to meet, and enjoy the creation of mural paintings, art workshops and skateboarding showcases.
When: 10 AM CST​
Where: Skatepark Pantitlan "Piedrita"
Learn more.
SUSTAINABLE COASTLINES
This Checkerboard Day, SCH is aiming to create a stir through artivism. ​We’re creating an interactive art piece about plastic pollution. Join us for a beach cleanup at Waikiki Beach and learn more about the art piece.
When: 10am-5pm (HST)​
Where: Waikiki Beach
Learn more.
NATIONS SKATE YOUTH
Nations Skate will invite the community to enjoy a full day of programming at the Museum of Vancouver. With the recent installation of the ‘Boarder X’ exhibit and donation of the Vans mini ramp, Nations will allow open access to the exhibit and open skate with Nations Skate. The evening will be followed by a premiere of the new Nations Island video.
When: 10AM-8PM​
Where: Museum of Vancouver
Learn more.
GROUNDSWELL
We’ll be making a new mural at Middle School 664 in Brooklyn, There will also be a printmaking activation to get our local community of kids involved. Join us on Nov 18th.
When: 12:30 - 5:30 pm EST
Where: MS 664 Brooklyn, NY
Learn more.
GLOBAL ORGANIZATIONS
CELEBRATE CREATIVITY IN MORE WAYS, WITH MORE PEOPLE, IN MORE PLACES. TOGETHER MAKES IT BETTER.
VANS CHECKERBOARD DAY
When our co-founder, Paul Van Doren established Vans in 1966 alongside his brother and two business partners, he did so with the belief that we weren’t to be just a footwear and apparel company but a people company that makes shoes and apparel. This mission to be people first has served as a cornerstone commitment for our brand for the past 55 years and has only strengthened as we’ve continued to launch initiatives that focus on enabling creative self-expression that support, uplift and empower members of our Vans family across the world to drive positive change within our communities.
As the brand’s single largest philanthropic initiative, Vans will support 16 charities from around the world who share a mission of revitalizing public spaces through arts, sports, culture and social impact programming by donating a collective $1 million USD. Each regional organization will receive $50,000 USD from The Vans Checkerboard Fund at Tides Foundation or via a direct donation from Vans to use towards their organization’s mission to continue their work around the world to build vibrant, inclusive, and welcoming spaces to support their local communities.
THE HISTORY OF CHECKERBOARD DAY
2020: CREATIVITY FOR MENTAL WELLNESS
See more here.
2019: CELEBRATE CREATIVITY
For the inaugural Vans Checkerboard Day in 2019, we donated over $1 million to Imagination.org to help them foster and fund creativity and entrepreneurship in kids all over the world. With the donation, they increased the number of Creativity Chapters globally and strengthened their educational programming in over 20 countries. Now more than 10,000 kids around the world get more access to creative play opportunities, that’s rad! Since Checkerboard Day, Imagination.org has received over 60 new Creativity Chapter applications and now have 190 Chapters in their worldwide network.
See more here.
The Vans Checkerboard Fund was established in 2019 to aid our ability to provide monetary support to nonprofit organizations that provide the skills, support and opportunities needed to build a more equitable society where all have the opportunity to realize their creative potential.
Throughout the year, Vans recommends grant distributions from the Vans Checkerboard Fund at Tides Foundation for organizations that work to:
Provide Equitable Access To Creativity: We support organizations that address the opportunity gap by providing access to programming and resources for young people to unleash their creative potential.
Foster The Wellbeing Of Marginalized Populations: We support organizations that cultivate safe spaces for and support the needs of BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ and Women.
It's more important than ever to look after those around you so for the third annual Vans Checkerboard Day, we're celebrating those who use their creativity for good! Whether you're a painter helping beautify the streets, a chef cooking at a shelter, or even a skater delivering groceries, your impact makes a world of difference to your local community. Show us how you're using your creativity to make a positive impact with #VansCheckerboardDay, and you could be featured on our social channels!
This year, we’ve partnered with DoSomething.org. As the largest not-for-profit exclusively for young people and social change, DoSomething is activating members to share their unique creative expression from Sports to Music to Art in public places to help uplift and build community.
Around the world we’re funding community activations through fifteen additional nonprofit partners. Check out all of our Checkerboard Day activities and join us!
REGIONAL
Share your unique creative expression from Sports to Music to Art in public places to help uplift and build community. We’ll award the most creative submissions that truly aim to bring their community together.
This Checkerboard Day, SCH is aiming to create a stir through artivism. ​Share a TikTok with us to demonstrate how you care for your coastal community.
We’ll be making a new mural at Middle School 664 in Brooklyn, There will also be a printmaking activation to get our local community of kids involved. Join us on Nov 18th.
We’re teaming up with skate organizations across the country to host a digital session for all skate non-profits to connect leading up to Checkerboard Day. Check out skate activations taking place across the US on November 18th.
Through the use of artistic and cultural tools, Vans and Colectivo Tomate alongside the surrounding neighborhoods will transform a skatepark in Mexico City to keep the local skateboarding scene thriving while inviting the community to meet, and enjoy the creation of mural paintings, art workshops and skateboarding showcases.
GLOBAL