The partnership emphasizes how mentorship and
outdoor equity can unlock curiosity, aspiration, and empowerment
for young individuals
ROCKFORD, Mich., Dec. 2, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- Merrell®, the world's leading hike and outdoor
footwear brand, announced it has collaborated on an exclusive
design of the brand's modern and innovative Moab Speed 2 in
partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA). The
partnership supports the crucial need for mentorship and further
promotes their shared mission to build confidence, ignite passion
for nature, and inspire the journey to our full potential.
The limited-edition hiker was designed and inspired by a Merrell
team member who is a volunteer "Big" – or mentor – with Big
Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) – infusing the color and spirit of the
organization into the shoe. The duo's mindful design resulted in a
playful green and black colorway, along with the program's namesake
across the heel.
"In our fourth year of partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters
of America, we aimed to create a truly unique product 'Bigs' and
'Littles' can wear together as they spend time outside together,"
said Merrell Chief Marketing Officer Pallav
Tamaskar. "Mentorship is crucial for empowering and building
the confidence of young people, and our collaboration showcases its
profound influence."
Access and equity in the outdoors play a crucial role in
building the foundations of a healthier and happier lifestyle.
Ninety percent of "Littles" participating in the BBBS program have
reported feeling healthier and happier when surrounded by nature,
and 79% reported a boost in self-confidence.
"The 'It Takes Little to Be Big' campaign redefines what it
means to be a mentor and create lasting impact by being present and
taking part in each other's lives, such as experiencing every day
outdoor experiences together," said BBBSA Chief Marketing Officer
Adam Vasallo. "This collaboration
reinforces the power that mentorship has to unify and inspire us to
make a difference in the lives of young people."
The unisex Moab Speed 2 retails for $140 and will be available to purchase online at
Merrell.com. The Moab Speed 2 is the latest innovation in hiking
from Merrell – inspired by insights from athletic hikers around the
world. It is designed to provide exceptional traction for outdoor
multi-sport activities and has long-lasting, lightweight
comfort.
In 2023, Merrell released a public service announcement in
partnership with BBBSA to address the critical need for mentorship
and inspire volunteer sign-ups nationwide. The biggest hurdles of
potential mentors are the perceived time and expertise required –
inspiring the "It Takes Little to Be Big" campaign and Merrell's
public service announcement. Merrell has also created initiatives
such as the Kids Shoe Design Contest and in-kind engagements for
Littles.
The goal of BBBSA and Merrell's partnership is to join forces to
harness the power of being outside and providing access to more
youth. Merrell will donate $10 for
each pair of shoes sold to further support Big Brothers Big
Sisters.
For more information on Merrell, please visit Merrell.com. For
more information on Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, visit
BBBS.org. To become a volunteer today, visit BeABig.org.
ABOUT MERRELL:
Merrell exists to share the simple power of being outside and is
committed to building an inclusive and sustainable environment for
future generations to enjoy. As the global leader in outdoor active
footwear with the Moab hiking boot and Jungle Moc, Merrell is
focused on merging performance, styling, and comfort to empower all
people to confidently explore the outdoors. The brand was recently
named Footwear News' 2022 Brand of the Year for promoting a more
diverse vision of the outdoors. Visit Merrell.com or follow us on
social @Merrell. Merrell is a division of Wolverine World Wide,
Inc. (NYSE: WWW), one of the world's leading marketers and
licensors of branded casual, active lifestyle, work, outdoor sport,
athletic, children's and uniform footwear and apparel.
ABOUT BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF AMERICA:
Founded in 1904, Big Brothers Big Sisters is the largest and
most experienced youth mentoring organization in the United States. Our mission is to create
and support mentoring relationships that help all young people
reach their potential. Big Brothers Big Sisters' evidence-based
approach is designed to foster positive outcomes from kindergarten
into adulthood, enabling every young person we engage and support
to dream bigger and have greater confidence, higher educational
achievement, professional success, and lasting, fulfilling
relationships. We have more than 230 local affiliated agencies
serving over 5,000 communities across all 50 states and the
District of Columbia. For more
information, visit: www.bbbs.org.
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SOURCE Merrell