VANS PARTNERS WITH NAACP FOR NEW SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORTING BLACK COLLEGE STUDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
Vans, the original action sports brand and advocate for creative expression, has partnered with the NAACP, the nation's preeminent social justice and civil rights organization, to launch the 'NAACP Creative Sole Scholarship Powered by Vans.' As part of Vans' commitment to uplift and drive equity, diversity and inclusion within our communities and our industry, this scholarship program aims to support African American students by providing them with monetary aid to use towards their college education as they pursue a creative career across a variety of disciplines including art, music, journalism, marketing, design, communications, or architecture.
Applications for the NAACP Creative Sole Scholarship Powered by Vans opened today and will remain open until June 18, 2021. Fifty students will be selected as recipients of the scholarship by N-SPIRE, a committee within NAACP that focuses on the creation, development and awarding of scholarship programs. The selected students will be announced August 9 and each will receive $5,000 to use towards their tuition fees. As a way for Vans to continue supporting these students throughout their entire college education, Vans will award the selected students $5,000 each year that they are enrolled, up to four years, which means one student could receive a total of $20,000 through the program, if eligibility requirements continue to be met. Vans hopes to incentivize the selected students to complete their full college education and graduate at the end of the four years.
Vans' commitment to tackle racism while ensuring diversity and inclusion become a mainstay across communities and industries is an essential step in the fight against institutional racism. We look forward to a sustained partnership that brings about change for the Black community.
- Yumeka Rushing, NAACP Chief Strategy OfficerAbout NAACP
Founded in 1909 in response to the ongoing violence against Black people around the country, the NAACP is the largest and pre-eminent civil and social rights organization in the nation. NAACP has a network consisting of over 2,200 units and branches across the nation, along with well over 2M activists. Our mission to is secure the political, educational, social and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons.
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 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.