Community

Young Hearts Project CharityYoung Hearts Project Charity

Our company purpose 'Inspiring Soles' informs everything we do, especially how we help others; we’re passionate about creating change, and aim to inspire others through charity, community and togetherness.

Too many young people struggle with the challenges of life. The Young Hearts Project, founded in 2014 by our Director Shane Anselmi, recognises the need to provide opportunities for young people to develop skills and resilience and feel empowered to deal with these challenges.

Working with our three key giving partners, Youthline, the Graeme Dingle Foundation and Great Potentials, ensures that the funds raised through the Young Hearts Project are utilised to support those most in need. In just six years our customers and Deuce have raised over $1.8 million for young Australasians. From every pair of full-priced Deuce sneakers sold, a portion is donated to the Young Hearts Project and then the funds are distributed to our three partners to deliver programmes that focus on mentoring, emotional support and value-based learning.

Thank you to all our customers who have helped us make a difference.

Young Hearts Project CharityYoung Hearts Project Charity
Over $1.8 million raised for young Australasians

$2 from every full priced pair of Deuce sneakers sold goes directly toward the Young Hearts Project. We stitch a Y on the back of our sneakers to represent YHP, the difference we're striving to make, and how giving a little, can change a whole lot.

 

 

Graeme Dingle FoundationGraeme Dingle Foundation

How we help

Since 1995, The Graeme Dingle Foundation has been helping young New Zealanders find purpose and direction through their highly effective programmes for young people aged 5 to 18 years old.

We support one of their programmes Kiwi Can through an interactive values and life skills programme delivered to primary and intermediate school students. Delivered by specially trained teachers, the programmes promote values of; positive relationships, integrity, resilience and respect.

How we help

The Young Hearts Project formed this partnership on a shared passion and commitment to helping young people and the issues they face today. We have been proudly supporting Youthline since 2014. Youthline was created over 50 years ago and has 10 centres across New Zealand. It was established to ensure young people know where to get help and can access support when they need it. 

We fund a service for 10-25 years olds to have testing, prescriptions and general check-ups available free of charge.

We also help fund regional youth development programmes and information services including referral services, early intervention, counselling and health promotion

Volunteering – there are often opportunities that come up for us to provide a hand. Most recently we helped shake buckets in our community to fundraise for Youthline's annual Winter appeal.

How we help

For nearly 30 years the Great Potentials Foundation has been working with low-income New Zealand communities, helping to unleash the potential of children, young people and families through education and parental support. Great Potentials helps over 5,000 children, young people and families across New Zealand each year.

Great Potentials run a fantastic mentoring programme in schools and communities across Auckland and the Waikato. We specifically support their MATES Junior programme to help support intermediate students making the transition to secondary school by providing academic support, teaching life skills, building meaningful relationships and embracing the joy of learning to enable fundamental change.

How we help

Each year, Headspace helps thousands of young people access vital support through their Headspace services in over 150 communities across Australia, online and phone counseling services, vocational services, and presence in schools.

We help support young people with mental health, physical health, work, and study support through some of Headspace's programs.

READ MORE

Young Hearts Project DeuceYoung Hearts Project Deuce
World Vision Kids OngaWorld Vision Kids Onga

World Vision.

In addition to the Young Hearts Project, every single one of our Merchant 1948 store sponsors a child and their families in the village of Onga, Malawi; we’re proud to be a household name there thanks to World Vision.

Until recently Onga was faced with many challenges: malaria, droughts, hunger and disease. Thanks to World Vision, and through our sponsorship, Onga has received 2491 mosquito nets, 155 dairy cows, 10 toilets (and 2 especially for girls) in schools, 25 playground sets, 2950kg of maize and soya bean seeds, and 66 boreholes have been drilled or rehabilitated.

Thanks to initiatives like these, their village is now beginning to thrive; The overall health and education of the community has improved.

Our stores regularly exchange handwritten letters with their sponsored children and their families, and we’ve even had a visit from the Chief of Onga himself! He spent time at our office and stores, and shared his story with us. To say he was inspiring is an understatement. We couldn’t be more proud to be involved in realising change for the village of Onga.

More about Merchant 1948