Caring Causes: Knockaround

Knockaround announces the winning students from the sixth year of Class Acts, the company’s ongoing charity campaign that provides resources and art supplies to local, underfunded elementary schools. The program gives San Diego 4th and 5th-grade students an opportunity to design their own unique pair of sunglasses. In the past, Knockaround has selected a single winning design to be produced and sold on its website, but this year, the company is expanding the initiative to include three winning designs. This year’s sunglasses will be available for purchase on Monday, May 7th at Knockaround.com. As always, 100% of Class Acts proceeds will be donated to San Diego County elementary schools through Knockaround's charitable partner, ArtReach. “Every year, we are amazed by the creativity and ideas these kids come up with, so deciding which one to produce is always hard. This year, we simply couldn’t settle on just one,” said company Founder Adam “Ace” Moyer. “We produced three amazing pairs of sunglasses designed by three very talented students. This increase in our Class Acts lineup will help us donate even more money to art education.” This year's winning designs are Galaxy Premiums, Croc In The Swamp Premiums, and Mr. Butter Premiums.

The Galaxy Premiums feature a supernova design by 4th grader Amaya from Fulton Elementary. The starry, galactic print of interstellar blues and lavenders are complemented by polarized sky-blue lenses and a spiral galaxy lens etch. The crocodile-themed shades, Croc In The Swamp Premiums, come from Knockaround’s third winner, 4th grader Brayden from Perry Elementary. Red-eye lenses accompany jaws-wide-open fronts and a pair of reptile green, scaly arms. 5th grader Danielle from Perry Elementary was inspired by her all-time favorite breakfast of pancakes when she designed the Mr. Butter Premiums. The frames are translucent golden honey-colored, drizzled with oozy maple brown graphics. Gold metal “K logos” and polarized gold lenses are set off by a “double stack” lens etch.

Class Acts is a natural charitable extension for Knockaround which has always kept art and design at the core of its brand. The program serves to encourage creativity and individual expression while talking about the importance of art and showing young students the artistic opportunities available to them. “When I founded Knockaround in 2005 after graduating art school, it was fueled by my love of art and design,” says Moyer. “I feel lucky to have seen art as a viable path for myself and I want to create more opportunities for young people to pursue their artistic careers.” To date, Knockaround has raised over $60,000 for elementary art education in San Diego County through its Class Acts program. All three of the 2018 Class Acts sunglasses will retail for $30 and be available to purchase exclusively at Knockaround.com beginning Monday, May 7th. Classrooms, crafters, and art-lovers are encouraged to download, print, and design their own pair of Knockaround sunglasses using the Class Acts worksheet. Show off your design ideas on social media by using the hashtag #knockaroundclassacts and tagging @knockaround.