On December 11th, Concepts and Adidas teamed up to offer Achievers from Friends of the Children Boston a Christmas shopping experience to remember. Our latest initiative with Friends of the Children supports Concepts Community initiatives as we seek out opportunities to work with organizations that will impact our consumer for the better now and in the future.

Working with young children aged 4-6, Friends of the Children mentors work one-on-one with children in the community facing multiple adverse childhood experiences like homelessness, food insecurity, a parent or guardian facing substance abuse issues or domestic violence, or are impacted by the child welfare system. Mentors stay with these children for 12+ years guiding them through adolescence and into adulthood.

Massachusetts has the 3rd highest rate of family homelessness in the United States. 2,343 homeless children are in Boston on any given night. What’s more, 1 in 11 children face hunger and food insecurity.

With the opportunity to work with our long-standing partner Adidas, we were able to offer high school aged Achievers a shopping day at our 73 Newbury Street location to shop the latest Ivy Park ‘Halls of Ivy’ release, Kerwin Frost’s collaboration with Adidas, and more. Giving Achievers the experience of visiting our Adidas location and creating an outfit for them, free of charge, is an honor especially during the challenging holiday season. In addition to treating achievers, we were also able to offer a special experience for the Achiever’s mentor, a friend that stays with the Achiever for years and develops a life-long relationship.

Developed in Portland, Oregon in 1993, the Friends of the Children model was built around a simple solution: enter the lives of children who face the toughest challenges early, and provide them with a dedicated, caring adult who stays by their side no matter what. Friends of the Children–Boston was founded in 2004, using the national model similar to chapters in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and more. The Friends of the Children Boston chapter was the first organization established in Boston by the GreenLight Fund, a venture philanthropy firm that brings innovative nonprofits from around the nation to Boston.