For immediate release: Cypress, CA- Vans encourages high school students to compete in the Vans Custom Culture project to design their own Vans shoes, inspiring them to embrace their creativity through art while raising awareness of diminishing school art budgets.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  February 1, 2012, Vans Custom Culture national registration opens to all U.S.-based high school art programs, accepting the first 1,000 registrant schools into this year’s competition.  Schools will be chosen to advance first by an internal Vans® team and then, in later stages, by public voting through the Vans Custom Culture website.  The five schools with the most votes will earn the chance to showcase their designs at the Vans Custom Culture final event, to be held in Los Angeles this May.

Entering its third year, Vans Custom Culture has already inspired tens of thousands of students at more than 700 participating schools.  Last year’s contest culminated in Vans awarding $50,000 toward the art programs at Ward Melville High School (Long Island, NY).  Melville was one of five schools that earned trips to the New York City showcase last year, based on more than 180,000 online votes.  Students at Rio Rancho High School (Rio Rancho, NM) won the grand prize in 2010.

Vans believes in the power of art in schools not only as a creative outlet, but also as an important educational component.  “Not only are the number of jobs based in creative skills growing, but developing and exercising inherent creativity nurtures traits applicable in nearly any career path,” said Doug Palladini, Vans’ Vice President of Marketing. “Vans aims to support art programs and help fight budget cuts that are all too common by inspiring students to embrace their creativity, while also educating communities at large about the importance of art in the schools.”

Mirroring the brand’s ideals of originality and creative expression, Vans Custom Culture encourages students to express their personal creativity through customizing four favorite Vans® canvas styles:  the Authentic, 106 Vulcanized, Sk8-Hi and Classic Slip-On.  Students are charged with designing each pair of shoes to fit within one of three themes representing the Vans® lifestyle: action sports, art or music or a fourth “local flavor” theme that reflects regional inspiration.

To further awareness, Vans has created a student and teacher-friendly social media network for the Custom Culture contest, allowing the public and participants to download official applications and rules, interactively engage in the process and stay updated on happenings from the Vans Custom Culture team.

For more details, visit the Vans Custom Culture platforms:

Website: http://www.vans.com/customculture/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/vanscustomculture

Twitter: @vans_66  #vanscustomculture

About Vans

Vans, the original action sports footwear and apparel company, is a brand of VF Corporation. Vans® collections include authentic footwear, apparel and accessories, snowboard boots and the Pro-tec line of protective gear and are sold in the United States through more than 250 company-owned stores as well as independent retailers.  Internationally, Vans sells its goods in approximately 70 countries through a network of subsidiaries, distributors and foreign offices.  Vans promotes action sports lifestyle and youth culture through support of athletes on boards and bikes all over the globe and through progressive events such as the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing®, the Vans Downtown Showdown, the Pro-tec Pool Party and the Vans Warped Tour®.

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Media Contact:
Contact: Kate Franklin / Alexis Wallsh
Bollare Communications
kate@bollare.com / alexis@bollare.com
310 – 246 – 0983

WHO:
Sigourney Weaver (POLITICAL ANIMALS), Matt Bomer (WHITE COLLAR), Ellen Burstyn (POLITICAL ANIMALS), Piper Perabo (COVERT AFFAIRS), Gabriel Macht (SUITS), Carla Gugino (POLITICAL ANIMALS), James Wolk (POLITICAL ANIMALS), Michael Ealy (COMMON LAW), Dulé Hill (PSYCH), Callie Thorne (NECESSARY ROUGHNESS), Tiffani Thiessen (WHITE COLLAR), Sharon Gless (BURN NOTICE), Patrick J. Adams (SUITS), Sharif Atkins (WHITE COLLAR), Coby Bell (BURN NOTICE), Marc Blucas (NECESSARY ROUGHNESS), Mehcad Brooks (NECESSARY ROUGHNESS), Corbin Bernsen (PSYCH), Bruce Campbell (BURN NOTICE), Scott Cohen (NECESSARY ROUGHNESS), Paulo Costanzo (ROYAL PAINS), Tim DeKay (WHITE COLLAR), Mark Feuerstein (ROYAL PAINS), Peter Gallagher (COVERT AFFAIRS), Christopher Gorham (COVERT AFFAIRS), Rick Hoffman (SUITS), Brittany Ishibashi (POLITICAL ANIMALS), Ryan Johnson (FAIRLY LEGAL), Warren Kole (COMMON LAW), Maggie Lawson (PSYCH), Meghan Markle (SUITS), Jack McGee (COMMON LAW), The Miz (WWE RAW), Kirsten Nelson (PSYCH), Timothy Omundson (PSYCH), CM Punk (WWE), James Roday (PSYCH), Campbell Scott (ROYAL PAINS), Sarah Shahi (FAIRLY LEGAL), Marsha Thomason (WHITE COLLAR), Gina Torres (SUITS), Michael Trucco (FAIRLY LEGAL), Baron Vaughn (FAIRLY LEGAL), Sonya Walger (COMMON LAW), Kurt Warner (THE MOMENT), Virginia Williams (FAIRLY LEGAL), among others.

WHAT:
USA Network 2012 Upfront Event

USA moves into Upfront Week for the first time with the biggest and most spectacular event yet, with performances by DJ and Grammy Award-winner Mark Ronson and special guests.   The talent only presentation will feature the stars of USA, the most watched network in all of cable for 23 consecutive quarters.  USA is the leader in original programming with a summer slate featuring some of the best returning scripted series and the highly anticipated debut of the event drama POLITICAL ANIMALS. With an unprecedented ten series on the schedule, including sophomore seasons of the critically acclaimed SUITS and NECESSARY ROUGHNESS, the network’s strong stable of originals includes WHITE COLLAR, ROYAL PAINS, BURN NOTICE, COVERT AFFAIRS, FAIRLY LEGAL, IN PLAIN SIGHT, PSYCH and new series COMMON LAW.  USA offers 52 weeks of spectacular live television with WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW, and a broad portfolio of acquired series that will add MODERN FAMILY in 2013, which will serve as a powerful lead-in to the network’s first foray into original comedy. In addition, this fall USA will make its move into the unscripted arena with the new reality series THE MOMENT.

WHEN:
Thursday, May 17, 2012
1:15 PM: MEDIA CHECK-IN
2:15 PM: RED CARPET ARRIVALS
3:30 PM PRESENTATION BEGINS

WHERE:
Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center
1941 Broadway at 65th Street

CONTACTS:
Shawn Purdy / Lindsey Brown
Slate PR
212.235.6813
shawn@slate-pr.com / lindsey@slate-pr.com

Farrah Hersh USA Network
212.664 4731
farrah.hersh@nbcuni.com

MEDIA CONTACT:
Stacey Perry / The Perry Group
Media Strategy•Public Relations•Special Events
Email: sp@theperrygroupmedia.com

NEW YORK, NY (May 15, 2012) – On May 14, 2012 at New York’s Cipriani Wall Street, multi-faceted entertainer Steve Harvey, along with his wife/philanthropist Marjorie Harvey, and CNN’s Soledad O’Brien co-hosted the Screen Gems Presents The Steve and Marjorie Harvey Foundation Gala. This year’s gala raised over $700,000 to support The Steve Harvey Mentoring Weekend for Young Men and the Girls Who Rule the World Mentoring Weekend.  In its third year, the gala was a rousing night full of laughs, inspiration and more, including a rare comedic set from the legendary Bill Cosby and a performance from the dynamic Rachelle Ferrell.

A night of laughs, entertainment and a stirring call to action from the Harveys and O’Brien, the evening recognized the honorees for their powerful actions in serving youth and inspiring social change.  Says Steve and Marjorie Harvey, “We continue to be inspired by the generosity shown by all the friends and supporters who came out for this amazing night. Anyone has the power to make a difference, and we are so grateful for this support, to continue empowering the futures of young men and women around the world.”

Over 400 friends, family members and supporters on hand including Gayle King (CBS This Morning anchor), Terrence J (host of BET’s 106 & Park), actor Romany Malco, actress/model Selita Ebanks, Hollywood producer Will Packer (Think Like A Man) and more to applaud honorees Richard and Kyle Petty, BET’s Debra Lee, Capital Prep Magnet School Founder Dr. Steve Perry, and Spike and Tonya Lewis Lee, who were all recognized with The Steve and Marjorie Harvey Foundation’s Helping Hand Award.

The Steve and Marjorie Harvey Foundation Gala was sponsored by Screen Gems (Title Sponsor), Essence Magazine (Print Sponsor), with additional support from The Coca-Cola Company, Neiman Marcus, Black Entertainment Television (BET), and Ford Motor Company.

About The Steve & Marjorie Harvey Foundation

The mission of The Steve and Marjorie Harvey Foundation is to ensure that the needs of the whole child are met through the development of programs and support of community-based organizations that foster excellence in the areas of health, education, and social well-being within urban and ethnically diverse communities. Two cornerstone programs include The Steve Harvey Mentoring Weekend for Young Men, which mentors young men who are without fathers, and the Girls Who Rule the World Mentoring Weekend. For information about The Steve Harvey Mentoring Weekend for Young Men, the Girls Who Rule the World Mentoring Weekend or to make a donation, please visit www.SMHarveyFoundation.org.

For Media Inquiries/Press Coverage:

Jacinda Chen / Jacinda@w-wpr.com

Patti Webster / Patti@w-wpr.com

W&W Public Relations, Inc.

732-469-5955