
Vans Checkerboard Day is a global initiative established to champion the power of creative expression around the world. Following a period of isolation, this year’s Checkerboard Day will focus on the vital role creativity plays in helping individuals and communities address mental health and well-being. This year, 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.
CHECKERBOARD DAY EXCLUSIVES
On top of the $1 million USD donation by Vans, you can help support the charities by purchasing a limited-edition Vans Checkerboard Day t-shirt designed by artist Geoff McFetridge. 100% of proceeds for each product sold will be donated to The Vans Checkerboard Fund at Tides Foundation.

Geoff Mcfetridge
"In what I do, my best work is done when I am most present. People seeking some human connection – that is such an important part of mental health."

- Wear checkerboard.
- Try something from this list!
- Visit a museum (IRL or online) to discover inspiration and meaning
- Write a poem about when, where or with whom your mental health is strongest
- Share how skateboarding has affected your life in a meaningful way by submitting a skatepark story
- Join a CALM Collective to talk about your passion with others
- Write a letter to your future self about the person you want to be
- Create a collage of a place you’d like to visit for a gateway to feel more rejuvenated
- Skate, surf or ride out to spend time with yourself or friends
- Play or listen to music to express your emotions, relax, focus, or feel connected.


We’ve spent a lot of the year apart, so this Vans Checkerboard Day we’re coming together to donate over $1M to organizations that support mental wellness, because creativity is good for your head. Join us on TikTok and show us how you ride, paint, play, sing, or whatever it is you do to express yourself with #VansCheckerboardDay.
Learn More


A weekly source of creative inspiration. The Vans Family shares how creativity is good for their heads.
The Vans Family shares how creativity is good for their heads.
COMING
SOON
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 funded by The Vans Checkerboard Fund at the Tides Foundation. Each will receive $100,000 USD from The Vans Checkerboard Fund 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.
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Arte por la Vida AC
-
The Wave Project
-
The SkatePark Project
-
The Ben Raemers Foundation
-
Get Lit
-
Social Skate
-
SAMH
-
Buku Jalanan Chowkit
-
WABC
-
CALM
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.

Vans Checkerboard Day is a global initiative established to champion the power of creative expression around the world. Following a period of isolation, this year’s Checkerboard Day will focus on the vital role creativity plays in helping individuals and communities address mental health and well-being. This year, 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.
CHECKERBOARD DAY EXCLUSIVES
On top of the $1 million USD donation by Vans, you can help support the charities by purchasing a limited-edition Vans Checkerboard Day t-shirt designed by artist Geoff McFetridge. 100% of proceeds for each product sold will be donated to The Vans Checkerboard Fund at Tides Foundation.

Geoff Mcfetridge
"In what I do, my best work is done when I am most present. People seeking some human connection – that is such an important part of mental health."

- Wear checkerboard.
- Try something from this list!
- Visit a museum (IRL or online) to discover inspiration and meaning
- Write a poem about when, where or with whom your mental health is strongest
- Share how skateboarding has affected your life in a meaningful way by submitting a skatepark story
- Join a CALM Collective to talk about your passion with others
- Write a letter to your future self about the person you want to be
- Create a collage of a place you’d like to visit for a gateway to feel more rejuvenated
- Skate, surf or ride out to spend time with yourself or friends
- Play or listen to music to express your emotions, relax, focus, or feel connected.


We’ve spent a lot of the year apart, so this Vans Checkerboard Day we’re coming together to donate over $1M to organizations that support mental wellness, because creativity is good for your head. Join us on TikTok and show us how you ride, paint, play, sing, or whatever it is you do to express yourself with #VansCheckerboardDay.
Learn More


A weekly source of creative inspiration. The Vans Family shares how creativity is good for their heads.
The Vans Family shares how creativity is good for their heads.
COMING
SOON
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 funded by The Vans Checkerboard Fund at the Tides Foundation. Each will receive $100,000 USD from The Vans Checkerboard Fund 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.
-
Arte por la Vida AC
-
The Wave Project
-
The SkatePark Project
-
The Ben Raemers Foundation
-
Get Lit
-
Social Skate
-
SAMH
-
Buku Jalanan Chowkit
-
WABC
-
CALM
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.