BCA 10 Spotlight: VF Corporation (Greensboro, NC)

Americans for the Arts is excited to honor VF Corporation at the BCA 10 Gala on October 2, 2018 in New York City. Click here to learn more about the BCA10.

“VF has a proud history of supporting the arts in the communities where our associates live and work, because we believe that thriving communities also mean thriving employees. Empowering local arts organizations that inspire and positively impact people and societies will always remain a focus for us at VF.” - Steve Rendle, Chairman, President & CEO, VF Corporation

VF Corporation is one the world’s largest apparel and footwear companies with nearly 70,000 associates and operations in more than 170 countries. VF is committed to giving back to its local communities and believes that being an actively engaged citizen is valuable for both the community and for the business.

VF and its brands encourage associates to pursue volunteer opportunities, whether through corporate volunteer programs or on their own. During the National Folk Festival in Greensboro, NC, which took place each year from 2015 to 2017, hundreds of VF associates joined the more than 1,400 volunteers needed to execute the three-day event. As a lead financial contributor, VF brought its Wrangler brand to the festival by sponsoring the Wrangler Stage, one of the festival’s most popular destinations. Wrangler also contributed the use of its headquarters’ downtown grounds to the festival, which provided space for audience seating and a food and beverage marketplace.

VF regularly celebrates associates who volunteer their time. Through the VF 100 program—which honors the 100 associates company-wide who have accumulated the highest number of service hours each year—VF has donated $1,000 to each winner’s charity of choice via the VF Foundation, VF’s philanthropic organization. Since the VF 100 program’s inception in 2005, more than 1,100 associates have contributed over 295,000 hours and more than $1 million has been donated to community causes.

VF takes an active role in supporting arts initiatives in its hometown of Greensboro. The company is a long-time lead contributor to ArtsGreensboro’s annual community-wide ArtsFund Campaign, which supports more than 50 arts organizations, projects, and artist initiatives each year across Guilford County. VF’s senior management is also playing a strategic role in a Greensboro-based, art-focused task force that is spearheading the effort to create Greensboro’s “Cultural Arts Master Plan,” whichwill serve to advance and support creative life in Greensboro.

Wrangler Stage, courtesy of VF Corporation

Several of VF’s brands offer customers the ability to showcase their artistry by crafting custom products while also benefiting local nonprofits. For nine consecutive years, the Vans brand has hosted its Custom Culture arts competition, which supports high school arts programs around the country. Participating schools have the chance to win $75,000 towards art programming, and four runner-up schools can earn $10,000. Since 2012, Vans has partnered with Americans for the Arts to offer Custom Culture Grants to public high schools to support arts education. VF is grateful for the ways in which the arts have enriched the company, and will continue to give back to the arts in their communities.

Nominated by ArtsGreensboro