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Local Chef Supports Popular Shoe Company's 'Custom Cultural' Program

By Michelle Durham

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – They're the shoes kids love to wear; the brand is Vans and for the past four years the company has held a Vans Custom Cultural program which raises money and awareness of the importance of art in high schools.

"So 'Custom Culture' is a national high school art competition that Vans started back in 2010 as a way to really raise awareness for the importance of art in education. Students get to customize four pairs of blanks Vans shoes in four themes, those being art, music, action sports and local flavor. And then they'll compete against other schools for a chance to win $50,000 for their art program," says Scott Byrer, Vans project manager.

"Anything that I can do to support creative expression through art is really important and I do that through food," says chef Jose Garces of "Iron Chef" who has been tapped as a celebrity ambassador.

Art teachers can register beginning January 2nd through February 11th. Registration is limited to the first 1,500 school cap....so the minute they reach that number registration will close.

For more information visit: vans.com/customculture.

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