Deuce sneakers raise $600K to inspire young New Zealanders

Since November 2013, New Zealand owned Merchant 1948 (formerly Overland) has donated $5 from every full price pair of Deuce Generation sneakers sold to their Young Hearts Project charity initiative. This month, the total amount donated tipped $600,000.

“I don’t know where time goes... When we launched the Young Hearts Project back in late 2013, every dollar raised seemed momentous – so I can’t believe we’ve now reached $600,000 thanks to our loyal customers. We truly couldn’t have done it without them!

As you may know, we donate all money raised by the Young Hearts Project to our giving partners Great Potentials (driving their Junior MATES mentoring programme) and Youthline – enabling both groups to provide vital support for young Kiwis. I grew up in New Zealand, and raised my own family here, so the issues faced by the next generation are incredibly important to me.

Right from the start, we wanted to make it easy to give back, so since day one we’ve been donating $5 from every pair of full priced Deuce sneakers sold; it’s customer purchases that have helped us raise this significant amount. Naturally we want to raise even more, so we’re launching our new YHP pins – with all the proceeds going towards the Young Hearts Project.

Thanks to our customers, from myself and everyone they’ve helped.” 

Shane Anselmi
Managing Director, Overland Footwear 


Further information:
Deuce Generation: https://www.deucesneakers.co.nz/

Deuce Generation sneakers are sold in 36 Merchant 1948 and Overland stores in New Zealand, and 6 stores in Australia – as well as online.

Young Hearts Project, learn more here: https://www.deucesneakers.co.nz/young-hearts-project

Youthline: http://www.youthline.co.nz/

Youthline’s work is more vital than ever with the issues and pressures faced by young people in New Zealand. CEO and National Spokesperson, Stephen Bell, reported that during three weeks in summer alone they responded to over 700 calls and 5000 text messages. The five main issues they consistently see are depression and sadness, suicide, fear, anxiety, and difficulty with family relationships and peer 
relationships.

Great Potentials, MATES programme: http://www.greatpotentials.org.nz/mates/

The Great Potentials Foundation MATES Junior programme is aimed at youth transitioning from intermediate to secondary school. It supplies trained mentors to intermediate kids to help them with homework, life skills and teach them the joys of learning.

Read the journey of one of their MATES mentors, Anna, here:
https://www.merchant1948.co.nz/blog/8-annas-story-mates-mentor/16