UOCC: Bubba Wallace & Live to Be Different
Welcome to the UO Community page. With our new UOCC (Urban Outfitters Community Cares) initiative, UO plans to focus on amplifying organizations that are empowering change. We’re excited to be partnering with groups, organizations and individuals who are empowering their communities to be better.
Created in partnership with Richard Petty Motorsports NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace, two limited edition tees were designed exclusively for Urban Outfitters with 100% of the proceeds from sales going to Bubba’s foundation Live to be Different. Below, read more from Bubba and learn about Live to Be Different’s mission to support disadvantaged individuals and their goals.
For those who don’t know you, can you give us a little background on yourself and your career? How did you get your start in NASCAR?
I started when I was nine years old racing go-karts. I did all the asphalt oval ranks, climbing my way up through legend cars, late models, and then getting into the NASCAR ranks around 2010 at the age of 16, making a name for myself and trying to be the best that I can be anytime I climbed into a race car. I got into the cup level in 2017 and I've been there ever since driving the iconic number 43 with Richard Petty Motorsports.
Tell us about your foundation Live to Be Different and what we can expect to see from it.
Live to Be Different has been around for a couple of years, but I didn't really have a specific idea of what we wanted to do. With everything that's going on in the world right now, we wanted to empower the local communities, and educate the youth, and bring them up in life and up to speed on everything that's going on. We want to educate them no matter what their race is, what their gender is, what their socioeconomic status is. We want to be able to help the next generation coming up.
How did you concept the exclusive tees for UO? What do you hope customers take away from this collaboration?
The reason I think people should buy these shirts is, first of all, they look great. Secondly, it gives back to our communities. That's what it's all about these days. We want to help out the communities that are in need, the ones that need change inside of their lives and we want to spark something in their heart.
What's one thing that gave you a sense of accomplishment this year?
Standing up for change inside the sport, and inside of our nation, to make it a better place, to make it more welcoming, to create unity for all walks of life.
Can you tell us about your best fan interaction this year?
The best fan interaction so far this year has been Talladega. From the start of that weekend, to how it ended... having a group of fans cheer your name. To be there and support their first NASCAR race was actually really, really cool to experience and to witness and be a part of. Being able to do an interview right in front of them was a lot of fun.
We have to hear more about your new puppy, Asher!
Asher has been an incredible addition to our family. He's been a blessing. He's a lot of fun. He's starting to get to that rebellious stage of not really wanting to listen. We've been teaching him some commands and he's really taking to that, so it's been a lot of fun. We're excited to see him grow.