UEFA and UEFA Foundation for Children donate funds to help earthquake victims in Türkiye and Syria
UEFA TO PAY TRIBUTE AT ALL UEFA CLUB COMPETITION MATCHES NEXT WEEK
UEFA and its partner, the UEFA Foundation for Children, have made an initial donation of €200,000 to support the vast humanitarian operation assisting victims of last Monday’s two devastating earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria.
UEFA has made a donation of €150,000 to the Turkish Football Federation (TFF), while the Foundation has committed €50,000 to the Bonyan Organization and Tiafi (Team international Assistance for Integration), two non-governmental organisations working on the frontlines of the disaster response in southern Türkiye and Syria.
European football’s governing body is also coordinating efforts by its member associations to contribute to a joint UEFA-UEFA Foundation disaster relief fund.
"UEFA is making this initial donation to help the immediate humanitarian response to this horrendous tragedy," said UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin on Friday.
"I also want to thank our member associations for their quick and compassionate reaction and support offered to those affected by this terrible event."
UEFA is also exploring the organisation of additional fund-raising activities during this season’s Champions League Final week, which will take place in Istanbul in June. Further details will be announced in the coming weeks.
In a further show of European football’s support for Türkiye and Syria, UEFA has also announced that a moment of silence will be observed before kick-off at all of its club competition matches next week in respect for victims of the earthquakes.
To date, the 6 February earthquakes have claimed more than 20,000 lives and left tens of thousands of people without shelter in freezing winter temperatures.
From packs to pitches: Sabritas RePlay arrives in Iztapalapa
From packs to pitches: Sabritas RePlay arrives in Iztapalapa
The global initiative giving packaging a new purpose brings a new pitch to Iztapalapa
For several years, the Mexican crisp brand Sabritas, (a subsidiary of PepsiCo) has focused on building strong ties with the football community, and now it has joined the global RePlay initiative, created by Lay’s in partnership with the UEFA Foundation for Children and the Fútbol Más Foundation, to give a second life to Sabritas packs while filling the world with smiles for all and generating positive results for the planet and people.
To this end, Sabritas has partnered with the Fútbol Más Foundation, PepsiCo Foundation Mexico and the UEFA Foundation for Children to build a new pitch in the community of Iztapalapa. This football field will host sports programmes and workshops led by the Fútbol Más Foundation with a view to motivating young people in four key ways: creating a sense of belonging, increasing commitment, promoting the safety of the community and guaranteeing access to sport.
“More than a football pitch, we have built a space that brings joy to the community where they can come together and enjoy moments of fun, happiness, motivation, and empowerment while promoting inclusion and sports. We are immensely proud of this initiative; it is an opportunity to continue to encourage positive change for the people and their environment. With this pitch, we seek to bring to life our brand’s purpose of bringing joy to communities by combining a passion for football with a social cause and creating a space where everyone can play and grow,” commented Hernán Tantardini, vice-president of Sabritas.
Ignacio Gomez, executive director of Fútbol Más in Mexico, added: “We are so excited to give a new life to this pitch, and now it’s time to start executing our educational sporting programmes to provide tailor-made support to the local community and drive positive change for generations to come.”
RePlay is a global initiative launched by the Lay’s brand in 2021 with the creation of the first sustainable RePlay pitch in South Africa. Having seen its positive social impact, the corporation set out to create more all over the world. RePlay pitches have already been built in Italy, Brazil, the UK and Mexico and more countries will follow in the coming years.
“Few things are as inspiring as putting sports at the service of communities. Here at the UEFA Foundation for Children, we believe that this is essential to ensure the holistic development of young people, especially those who grow up in underprivileged communities. With this in mind, RePlay has become one of our most consistent programmes, and bringing this new pitch to Mexico allows us to continue spreading our message,” said Urs Kluser, general secretary of the UEFA Foundation for Children.
Oribe Peralta, a UEFA Ambassador and one of Mexico’s best-known football players, attended the inauguration event and shared his thoughts on this joyful occasion for the local community:
"It's an honour to be supporting the launch of the Sabritas RePlay pitch. I am sure this pitch will have a positive impact, uniting the community through the power of football, helping them to learn, grow, develop confidence and teamwork, and of course have fun. I have been able to experience first-hand the impact that sports can have on people's lives, and thanks to this initiative, people will be able to find in football a safe and fun place.”
Finally, the event had a special surprise for the community with the visit of the UEFA Champions League trophy (known locally as the ‘Orejona’), one of the world’s most revered football trophies. Special guests and members of the local community were able to take photos of the trophy and enjoyed an afternoon spent participating in the different activities that will bring smiles and joy to this renewed space.
It's an honour to be supporting the launch of the Sabritas RePlay pitch. I am sure this pitch will have a positive impact, uniting the community through the power of football, helping them to learn, grow, develop confidence and teamwork, and of course have fun. I have been able to experience first-hand the impact that sports can have on people's lives, and thanks to this initiative, people will be able to find in football a safe and fun place.”
- Oribe Peralta, UEFA Ambassador
About PepsiCo
Project partner
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $79bn in net revenue in 2021, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay's, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker and SodaStream. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1bn each in estimated annual retail sales.
Guiding PepsiCo is its vision to be the global leader in beverages and convenient foods by winning with PepsiCo Positive (pep+). pep+ is the corporation’s strategic end-to-end transformation that puts sustainability and human capital at the centre of how we will create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for the planet and people.
About Fútbol Más
Project Partner
Fútbol Más aims to promote the well-being of children and young people by strengthening their resilience processes, forming meaningful bonds and promoting community cohesion through games and sports. Its values are respect, joy, creativity, responsibility and teamwork. Present in 11 countries, it has developed 172 school, neighbourhood and corporate volunteering programmes, reaching more than 27 000 children and young people around the world.
UEFA Foundation for Children supports 65 humanitarian projects around the world
The total amount granted will surpass €4.9m
The UEFA Foundation for Children's board of trustees has allocated funding to 65 projects supporting the rights of children and young people worldwide.
In addition to 30 different European projects and special funding for the Ukraine response, the foundation will support 12 projects in Africa, 12 in Asia, seven in Central and South America, and two in Oceania. It will also continue to partner with Lay's on the building of new pitches for children in particularly deprived locations. The total value of funding provided by the foundation this season will be more than €4.9m.
"We often say how powerful the impact of football on our lives is, but the work of our Foundation for Children illustrates that in the best possible way,” said UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin, who chaired the board’s meeting on Wednesday. "Together with our partners, we are proud to announce that next year we will deliver 65 projects, which should enable a greater number of children across the globe to enjoy the magic of football while also offering them hope for a better tomorrow."
The list of NGOs selected from the 2022 call for projects is as follows:
Organisation
Countries
EUROPE
Save the Children
Albania
NGO Bridge of Hope
Armenia
Genesis Project
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Football Friends
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Udruga Za Sport, Rekreaciju i Edukaciju – Igre mladih
The board of trustees also received an update on ongoing projects and on the impact of the foundation's support for child victims of the conflict in Ukraine. In addition, the board members expressed gratitude to the European football community, which had supported numerous initiatives to support Ukraine and neighbouring countries affected by the humanitarian crisis.
Andrea Radrizzani joins the UEFA Foundation for Children’s board of trustees
The UEFA Foundation for Children is proud to announce the appointment of Andrea Radrizzani as a new member of the board of trustees. As well as being the chair of Leeds United, Radrizzani is one of the world’s leading sports media entrepreneurs and the founder of Play for Change, an international sport and development non-profit aiming to help marginalised and at-risk youth, particularly in the developing world.
Commenting on his appointment, Radrizzani said: “It is a great honour and privilege to take a seat on the UEFA Foundation for Children’s board of trustees. I am dedicated to having a positive impact on children’s lives using the power of football and sport, and I look forward to harnessing my experience in cooperation with the other trustees to deliver a better future for our younger generations.”
The next board meeting is scheduled to take place on 3 June 2023 in Eindhoven, the Netherlands.
Andrea Radrizzani joins the UEFA Foundation for Children’s board of trustees
Visa donates €50,000 to UEFA Foundation-backed charity selected by Amandine Henry
The Player of the Match in the 2021/22 UEFA Women’s Champions League final has selected Sport dans la Ville to receive a €50,000 donation from Visa.
Olympique Lyonnais (OL) midfielder Amandine Henry has directed a €50,000 donation from Visa to Sport dans la Ville, a French charity supported by the UEFA Foundation for Children. An official award ceremony will be organised the 14th of September, on the OL campus in the presence of the association Sport dans la Ville.
Henry paved the way to OL’s 3-1 victory over FC Barcelona in the UEFA Women’s Champions League final back in May when she scored the first goal of the game in the sixth minute. Named Player of the Match by Visa, which sponsors UEFA’s women’s football competitions, she was given the opportunity to choose one of the 245 charities supported by the UEFA Foundation for Children to receive the prize money.
Making a difference on and off the pitch
"I am very happy to have been awarded Player of the Match at the UEFA Women’s Champions League final," Henry said. "My contribution to my team's victory has been recognised, which gives me real satisfaction, but I am also delighted to be able to contribute off the pitch."
"Thanks to Visa's commitment, I was able to choose an organisation that I hold in high regard. Sport dans la Ville does great work in Lyon and throughout France. Giving them such a significant donation will improve the conditions of access to sport for many young people. Considering what sport has enabled me to achieve, it means a lot to me."
Sport dans la Ville, a long-standing partner of the UEFA Foundation, works with young and disadvantaged children in marginalised neighbourhoods across France to help them achieve a better life through sports by offering mentoring and entrepreneurship programmes. Founded in 1998, the charity currently operates in 46 urban areas and has supported more than 12,000 at-risk youths across the country.
Visa is also partnering with Sport dans la Ville in underserved areas of Seine-Saint-Denis on a programme promoting the practice of sports among young people to lead healthier lives and develop the tools they need to perform better academically.
Sports and football to empower girls
Urs Kluser, General Secretary of the UEFA Foundation for Children, is delighted with Visa’s contribution, saying: “I thank VISA and Amandine for this donation. It is a nice link between women’s football and the foundation’s activity. It will not only make a difference to a meaningful project but will also promote our shared values, such as the passion for the game and equal opportunities.”
The UEFA Foundation for Children uses football as a springboard to empower children around the world. This is achieved by setting up sporting and educational projects that give children a safe place to learn and play, which ultimately improves their prospects.
"I want to thank Visa and Amandine on behalf of the entire Sport dans la Ville association for this very generous donation," said Nicholas Eschermann, president of Sport dans la Ville. "Visa is a trusted partner and we are very happy to have been able to count on their support for several years now."
Visa dedicated to women's football
“Visa's ongoing support for women's football provides a platform to recognise current athletes and inspire future ones and aims to make a small yet robust contribution to the globally growing movement for gender equality and women's empowerment. As partners of Sport dans la Ville, we are especially happy to see that they will receive this donation enabling them to keep supporting children through sports,” says Juan Herrera, Visa’s head of marketing for France, Belgium and Luxembourg.
In December 2018, UEFA announced a landmark seven-year partnership with Visa, who thus became the first ever UEFA sponsor dedicated to women's football.
The landmark agreement made Visa a main partner of the UEFA Women's Champions League, UEFA Women's EURO, European Women's Under-19 and Under-17 Championships and UEFA Women's Futsal EURO until 2025. Visa also collaborates on UEFA's Together #WePlayStrong marketing initiative, which is aimed at getting more girls and women to play football.
I am very happy to have been awarded Player of the Match at the UEFA Women’s Champions League final. My contribution to my team's victory has been recognised, which gives me real satisfaction, but I am also delighted to be able to contribute off the pitch. Thanks to Visa's commitment, I was able to choose an organisation that I hold in high regard. Sport dans la Ville does great work in Lyon and throughout France. Giving them such a significant donation will improve the conditions of access to sport for many young people. Considering what sport has enabled me to achieve, it means a lot to me.
- Amandine Henry, midfielder at Olympique Lyonnais
About Visa
Project partner
Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable, and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses, and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at Visa.fr or visit our blog
Lionel Messi, Mastercard’s global football ambassador, launches new campaign to raise funds for children’s health and education
We partner with Mastercard to support Save the Children organisation ahead of UEFA Champions League Group Stage
5 September 2022, Nyon – Footballing legend Lionel Messi has kicked off a new fundraising campaign with Mastercard supporting Save the Children, that sees him in a new video reflect on how football gave him the opportunities that many children are deprived of.
The campaign will promote sports and educational activities as driving forces for change in UK, Italy and Spain. Messi will be joined by global Mastercard ambassadors Jordan Henderson, Giorgio Chiellini and Álvaro Morata.
This partnership will support Save the Children in the new initiative that aims to help children in poverty realise their potential through the power of football, other sports and educational activities, such as literacy and the arts.
Messi is joined by some of the best footballers from the UK, Italy and Spain to drive donations and support local children in each of their countries. Liverpool captain and England midfielder Jordan Henderson heads up the UK’s programme, which aims to help disadvantaged children under 16 access free activities throughout the 2023 summer holidays. Encouraging young people to build life skills and engage in ongoing learning and development is a core part of Save the Children’s work, and UK donations will help support 600 families and over 1,000 children in Manchester and North Tyneside.
Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini launches the campaign next week among his fans, aiming to raise funds to enable children and young adults in the country’s most disadvantaged neighbourhoods to access Punti Luce education centres that promote free access to educational activities, a healthy diet and provide a broad range of sport and activity workshops, from football to volleyball and sailing – activities that would otherwise be completely inaccessible to those living in deprived and underserved neighborhoods.
In Spain, international and Atlético Madrid striker Álvaro Morata is driving donations to support 220 children in poverty and at risk of social exclusion. The holistic programme will see them given psychological support while providing opportunities to play sport and study values and creativity.
Giancarla Pancione Marketing and Fundraising Director at Save the Children Italy, said “The number of children and teenagers in poverty throughout Europe dramatically rose in the last decade. This amplifies educational inequalities and penalises the future of the most disadvantaged girls, boys and teenagers, who are paying the heaviest price. This partnership is a way of joining forces and putting our best resources at their service, in order to fulfill their potential and built a brighter future.”
Mastercard is supporting the programmes by providing the technology to allow people to donate to the cause, and matching donations up to €300,000. The campaign forms part of Mastercard’s Cause Enablement work, in which it is transforming the digital donation world to make it easier for charities to connect donors to causes, and make seamless giving possible for everyone, everywhere. The donation widgets will be accessible through links from the ambassador, Mastercard, and partner social media channels as well as through ad banners on UEFA.com and Priceless.com editorial.
“At Mastercard, we have long believed in using our business for good. It’s hugely important to us that our technology and networks can power giving for sustainable impact,” said Jeannette Liendo, Senior Vice-President for Marketing and Communications at Mastercard Europe. “We’re so proud of this campaign and hope it, and our brilliant global ambassadors will help to drive home the message that any child can aim for the stars as long as they have the right resources behind them.”
Urs Kluser, General Secretary at the UEFA Foundation for Children, said “This generous support from Mastercard will make a big difference to the programme beneficiaries. It will allow more children in need to grow up healthy, to have access to education and sport, and get a chance for a better future.”
At Mastercard, we have long believed in using our business for good. It’s hugely important to us that our technology and networks can power giving for sustainable impact, We’re so proud of this campaign and hope it, and our brilliant global ambassadors will help to drive home the message that any child can aim for the stars as long as they have the right resources behind them.
- Jeannette Liendo, Senior Vice-President for Marketing and Communications at Mastercard Europe
Donations can be made via the ambassador posts, on the official UEFA Club Competitions Online Store on UEFA.com, or by clicking on the links through Mastercard and Save The Children social media channels plus Priceless.com
About Mastercard
Project partner
Mastercard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com, is a technology company in the global payments industry. We operate the world’s fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. Mastercard products and solutions make everyday commerce activities – such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances – easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone. Follow us on Twitter @MastercardNews, join the discussion on the Beyondthe Transaction Blog and subscribe for the latest news on the Engagement Bureau.
About Save the Children
Project Partner
At Save the Children, we want every child to have a future. We work every day with passion, determination and professionality in Italy and around the world to give children the opportunity to be born and grow up healthy, receive an education and be protected. When an emergency breaks out, we are among the first to arrive and the last to leave. We work with local realities and partners to create a network that helps us to meet the needs of children, guarantee their rights and listen to their voices. We concretely improve the lives of millions of children, including those most difficult to reach. For over 100 years, Save the Children has been fighting to save children at risk and guarantee them a future.
UEFA Foundation will assist 15 ECA member clubs retained to receive assistance from the ECA relief programme
UEFA Foundation will assist 15 ECA member clubs retained to receive assistance from the ECA relief programme
ECA partners with UEFA Foundation to implement this humanitarian initiative to help Ukrainians affected by the ongoing conflict
The ECA Ukraine Relief Committee has approved applications for financial assistance from 15 member clubs for projects they are conducting to assist children and families displaced by the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.
The ECA Ukraine Relief Committee was set up to review applications from member clubs who are implementing concrete and effective humanitarian actions to support the integration and development of those affected by the war in Ukraine. ECA chairman Nasser AlKhelaifi first announced the availability of the €1m ECA relief fund during his speech on 28 March at the at the 27th ECA General Assembly in Vienna.
Having been approved first by the Ukraine Relief Committee and then by the UEFA Foundation for Children, the 15 projects received the sums requested from the foundation. Donations were granted at an amont between €25,000 and €50,000 per club.
The value of the donations allocated to the 15 clubs comes to a combined total of €680,000, leaving €320,000 available in the relief fund for distribution in the future. An update will be given at the forthcoming ECA General Assembly in Istanbul, Türkiye, and a second-round call for projects from member clubs is expected to follow soon.
Commenting on the allocation of funds to the 15 clubs, Dariusz Mioduski, ECA vice-chairman and chairman of the Ukraine Relief Committee, said:
“At ECA we were all extremely concerned by the realities of hardship being suffered by the many refugees fleeing the tragic situation in Ukraine. I am very pleased, therefore, that our Ukraine Relief Committee was able to approve a total of 15 projects proposed by our member clubs, who will now receive the requested financial donations. This assistance will allow them to continue their good work supporting displaced Ukrainian children and families, bringing them much-needed assistance, human interaction and hope for the future. There is still a substantial amount left in the ECA Relief Fund and we expect a second call for projects from member clubs to be made in the near future.”
The 15 member clubs whose projects were approved are: AC Sparta Praha, Athletic Club, Celtic FC, FC Chikhura Sachkhere, FC Shakhtar Donetsk, FC Slovan Liberec, GNK Dinamo Zagreb, Heart of Midlothian FC, Legia Warszawa, Maccabi Haifa F.C., Nõmme Kalju FC, SJK Seinäjoki, SK Slavia Praha, ŠK Slovan Bratislava, Trabzonspor AŞ.
At ECA we were all extremely concerned by the realities of hardship being suffered by the many refugees fleeing the tragic situation in Ukraine. I am very pleased, therefore, that our Ukraine Relief Committee was able to approve a total of 15 projects proposed by our member clubs, who will now receive the requested financial donations.
This assistance will allow them to continue their good work supporting displaced Ukrainian children and families, bringing them much-needed assistance, human interaction and hope for the future. There is still a substantial amount left in the ECA Relief Fund and we expect a second call for projects from member clubs to be made in the near future.”
- Dariusz Mioduski, ECA vice-chairman and chairman of the Ukraine Relief Committee
UEFA Foundation for Children joins forces with cerebral palsy football in Finland and charity Icehearts to involve local children in the Super Cup opening ceremony
For the UEFA Foundation for Children, the UEFA Super Cup is much more than the result on the pitch. It is an opportunity to support some inspirational local projects and give the children involved an evening they will never forget.
The match also provides a platform for messages of inclusion and hope that demonstrate football’s positive influence and how it gives even the most vulnerable children a brighter outlook on life.
"The UEFA Super Cup does not only offer football fans across Europe the chance to watch the world's biggest stars in the spectacular season opener. It also allows UEFA and its Foundation for Children to engage directly with local youth projects. Using the power of our beautiful sport, together we will remain a driving force for positive and lasting changes across Europe, raising awareness about children's problems and overcoming them", UEFA President and Chairman of UEFA Foundation for Children Aleksander Čeferin said. "Our Foundation looks forward to working alongside the Football Association of Finland on vital local grassroots projects focused on children's well-being, simultaneously offering the local youngsters beautiful memories and opportunities to enjoy football."
” We are very proud and happy that the UEFA Super Cup will be held in Finland and to see local children take part in this event. Together with UEFA and its Foundation for Children we will offer a unique lifetime experience to the young players and raise awareness of disability football”, Ari Lahti, President of the Football Association of Finland added.
The 2022 UEFA Super Cup will shine a spotlight on the Cerebral Palsy (CP) Football Association of Finland that is developing its youth section. Four children will be selected to be Mastercard player mascots lined up next to the Real Madrid and Eintracht Frankfurt players. This unique opportunity means a lot to these youngsters and motivates them to aim higher and follow their dreams.
“The children selected for the Super Cup made an impression with their enthusiasm and skill in the first youth cerebral palsy football event held in May,” says CP football project coordinator Ville Sallinen. “They are very honoured, excited and a little bit nervous – but in a good way!”
To raise awareness ahead of the UEFA Super Cup night, the Football Association of Finland (SPL) and the CP Football Association will host a football event for young players with cerebral palsy and professional football players with and without cerebral palsy. There will be workshops and a demonstration of CP football.
“Disability football has been an important part of Finnish grassroots football for more than 25 years,” said Lasse Keski-Loppi, a grassroots expert at the SPL. “We are proud to have our grassroots programme showcased at the 2022 UEFA Super Cup. This year our association launched its own CP football programme to promote football for all in Finland. I am sure that the Super Cup will give the programme the visibility it needs at all levels. This CP programme for youngsters and young talents helps many new young players to participate in football and follow their football dreams. We all do share the same game.”
Meanwhile, 20 youngsters from the Icehearts association will play a key role in the opening ceremony, acting as central circle carriers. Icehearts prevents social exclusion, enhances social skills, and promotes the well-being of vulnerable children.
“When selecting the children to take part in the Super Cup, we wanted to reward those who have made special efforts in their studies and share a true passion for football,” says Karo Koivunen of Icehearts. “They are excited to be part of this magical moment – football is their life!”
The UEFA Super Cup does not only offer football fans across Europe the chance to watch the world's biggest stars in the spectacular season opener. It also allows UEFA and its Foundation for Children to engage directly with local youth projects. Using the power of our beautiful sport, together we will remain a driving force for positive and lasting changes across Europe, raising awareness about children's problems and overcoming them. Our Foundation looks forward to working alongside the Football Association of Finland on vital local grassroots projects focused on children's well-being, simultaneously offering the local youngsters beautiful memories and opportunities to enjoy football.
- Aleksander Čeferin, UEFA President and Chairman of UEFA Foundation for Children
Legends 2004 and UEFA Foundation for Children promote social integration through football
The Champions For Life NPC Legends 2004 football team and the UEFA Foundation for Children are gearing up to promote the values of football on and off the pitch on the Greek island of Lesvos.
#UnitedWePlay
On 9 July, the Mytilene municipal stadium will host local Under-12 football academies and young refugees for a football tournament in an atmosphere free from discrimination.
Legends 2004 is a Greek football team promoting the message that children can integrate through football, and sport in general, without discrimination, whether based on social background, gender, disabilities, race, religion, etc. In this particular event, local football academies will welcome young refugees into their teams and then compete against each other under the guidance and mentorship of the Legends, all champions from EURO 2004.
#WeStandForHope
Each of the Legends will take a team under his wing to inspire the young athletes and provide knowledge, experience, and advice, and then guide them and their coaches through a series of games, which will culminate in a small and a big final.
#UnitedTogether
This is a social event inspired by love, humanity, and solidarity, in which football unites the children and helps to ease the integration of people that have survived the harshest life circumstances.
#WeCanDoBetter
UEFA general secretary Theodore Theodoridis, European Commission vice-president Margaritis Schinas and UEFA Foundation for Children general secretary Urs Kluser will all be attending the tournament, sending a strong message of support for integration and solidarity through the dynamics of football.
#MakeADifference
**********
Media representatives who wish to attend the event on 9 July must register here: legends2004@legends2004.com
FedEx and UEFA Foundation invite Sport Dans Le Ville to put forward referee mascots at UEFA Champions League final in Paris
FedEx and UEFA Foundation invite Sport Dans Le Ville to put forward referee mascots at UEFA Champions League final in Paris
Once-in-a-lifetime experience for children from Sport Dans la Ville
Paris, 27 May 2022. -UEFA Champions League sponsor and express transportation company, FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX), continues its tradition of collaborating with UEFA Foundation for Children to offer memorable experiences to children enrolled in sporting programmes of local non-profit organisations.
French organisation Sport dans la Ville (SDLV) has been invited to put forward three children, two boys and one girl aged 7-10, who will have the opportunity to accompany UEFA officials onto the field in front of more than 75,000 people at Stade de France in Paris this weekend.
“This is a great opportunity to be able to offer young people in our programs – it’s an experience unlike any other and one unlikely to ever come around again. For these children, this moment will help them feel visible as individuals alongside admired professional players and respected footballing officials. It’s a global stage for them, one that makes them feel appropriately equal, and a confidence-building memory they can take forward in their lives,” said Hélène Blondel, Director of partnerships at Sport Dans Le Ville.
The selected children will have the rare chance to watch the players from Liverpool and Real Madrid warm-up on the pitch and opportunity to savour the atmosphere of a live tournament in a football stadium that is local to them, but which the three chosen children have never been inside.
“The UEFA Foundation for Children is delighted that our collaboration continues as it began when FedEx became a sponsor of UEFA tournaments back in 2015. These apparently simple gestures, of donating opportunities to those who may not otherwise have them, has an immeasurable impact on the individuals themselves, and lends a platform for local charities, like SDLV, who are utilising football to support children’s rights and needs,” said Urs Kluser, general secretary of the UEFA Foundation for Children.
“The donation of referee mascot places at the UEFA Champions League Final is only one initiative, but notably the most visible, in our social responsibility collaboration between FedEx and the UEFA Foundation for Children. Throughout our sponsorship cycle we will continue as we have always intended – to utilise our position as a sponsor of professional football to fund charitable organisations working to advance social issues, such as diversity and inclusion, that affect the opportunities and sense of optimism among young people,” said Wouter Roels, SVP Marketing International, FedEx Express Europe.
The donation of referee mascot places to local non-profit organisations will continue throughout FedEx three-year sponsorship of the UEFA Champions League, offering similar opportunities to children in Istanbul, Turkey and London, UK via football-focused charities when the time rolls around.
A three-year social responsibility grant from FedEx to the UEFA Foundation will shortly be announced. The co-developed programme, Championing the Future, will provide financial support to charities in host-countries of the UEFA Champions League Finals, promoting diversity and equality among children and empowering them to become champions of a more inclusive future.
The donation of referee mascot places at the UEFA Champions League Final is only one initiative, but notably the most visible, in our social responsibility collaboration between FedEx and the UEFA Foundation for Children. Throughout our sponsorship cycle we will continue as we have always intended – to utilise our position as a sponsor of professional football to fund charitable organisations working to advance social issues, such as diversity and inclusion, that affect the opportunities and sense of optimism among young people.
- Wouter Roels, SVP Marketing International, FedEx Express Europe
(c) Sport dans la Ville
About FedEx Corp.
Project partner
FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenue of $92 billion, the company offers integrated business solutions through operating companies competing collectively, operating collaboratively, and innovating digitally under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world's most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its nearly 600,000 team members to remain focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. FedEx is committed to connecting people and possibilities around the world responsibly and resourcefully, with a goal to achieve carbon-neutral operations by 2040.
Founded in 1998, Sport dans la Ville is the main organisation in France promoting social and professional integration through sport. The organisation sets up and operates sports centres in disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Its programmes help 8,500 young people find their place in society and enter the world of work.
Sport dans la Ville has created the following programmes to ensure every young person finds a route into employment:
L dans la Ville – a programme aimed at empowering and enhancing the employability of 2,000 young women.
Job dans la Ville – a programme that provides career guidance and employability training to 2,085 young people aged 15 and over.
Entrepreneurs dans la Ville – a start-up support programme that has led to the creation of 310 businesses since 2007.
Mastercard player mascots take the centre stage at UEFA Champions League Final
Mastercard player mascots take the centre stage at UEFA Champions League Final
After two years of virtual activation, the Mastercard player mascots will join the Champions League finalists on the pitch in Paris
Paris, 27 May 2022: Mastercard’s player mascot initiative will return in-person for the UEFA Champions League Final at the Stade de France, Paris, on May 28.
Mastercard Player Mascots initiative provides 22 young football fans with Priceless access to the UEFA Champions League Final. The children will fulfil their dreams by running onto the pitch and will be joined by some of the world’s best football players – from finalists Liverpool and Real Madrid – before watching the pinnacle of club football live.
This year, Mastercard is partnering with the UEFA Foundation to select the mascots that will take part in this year’s final. The UEFA Foundation will in turn work with Libraries Without Borders – an international NGO that supports vulnerable people through education, culture, and information – to offer this opportunity to children from vulnerable communities and young refugees that have recently arrived in France.
“We are delighted that Mastercard Player Mascots will be returning as an in-person experience for UEFA Champions League Final in Paris,” said Jeanette Liendo, Senior Vice President Marketing and Communications at Mastercard Europe. “Since we first sponsored the competition in 1994, its popularity continues to grow and the Final is now one of the most prestigious events on the global sporting calendar. We cannot wait to provide our chosen mascots with the matchday experience of a lifetime and the chance to rub shoulders with some of the world’s best players.”
“It is a pride for the foundation to bring children to this prestigious final” said Urs Kluser, General Secretary of the UEFA Foundation for Children. “It is a unique lifetime experience that we can offer to children from our partners which will have a big impact on their future”.
"Libraries Without Borders is very proud to contribute to this operation, and glad to have the possibility to allow girls and boys with difficult backgrounds to dream. This moment will remain forever engraved in the memory of the children." said Edouard Delbende, BSF’s Director of Development & Communications.
Libraries Without Borders is very proud to contribute to this operation, and glad to have the possibility to allow girls and boys with difficult backgrounds to dream. This moment will remain forever engraved in the memory of the children.
- Edouard Delbende, BSF’s Director of Development & Communications.
About Mastercard
Project partner
Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments and businesses realize their greatest potential. Our decency quotient, or DQ, drives our culture and everything we do inside and outside of our company. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all.
Bibliothèques Sans Frontières (Libraries Without Borders) is a NGO that strengthens the capacity of people in vulnerable situations by facilitating access to education, culture, and information. In more than 50 countries, we create innovative cultural and learning spaces that allow those affected by crisis or precarity to learn, to play, to build communities, and to construct their futures.
Clarence Seedorf joins the UEFA Foundation for Children board
Clarence Seedorf joins the UEFA Foundation for Children board
The football legend brings a global profile and more than 20 years' experience of working with charitable projects.
Seedorf, who remains the only player to have lifted the UEFA Champions League with three different clubs, has dedicated himself to social projects both during and after his playing career, using the power of sport to inspire positive change.
"We are delighted Clarence is joining the UEFA Foundation for Children family," said UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, who is also chairman of the UEFA Foundation for Children.
"Not only does he carry an inspirational story as one of the most successful footballers of his generation, he has continually used his experiences to help make the world a better place for others. Having Clarence on our team will be a huge benefit to the Foundation as we work together to improve the lives of disadvantaged children all over the world."
Giving back to communities
Seedorf, who speaks six languages and represented the Netherlands 87 times, added: "It's an honour and a pleasure to join the UEFA Foundation for Children. I have followed its activities closely and am very happy to join in support of its work.
"I have spoken with President Čeferin for some time and appreciate that he has embraced the idea of me joining the team. I hope we can enjoy this relationship for a long time, do some great things and give back to communities around the world."
Clarence, welcome to the UEFA Foundation for Children. How do you see your role on the board of trustees developing?
"I think joining the Foundation is a nice evolution of my relationship with UEFA which has been in place for some time, and together we understand the importance that football has in society and in the lives of kids.
"I’ve been involved in foundations for over 25 years, and that has given me great insight into what it takes to make an impact and create projects that make a difference.
"But first, I want to understand much better and learn from where the Foundation stands now and how I can bring my knowledge and experience on board in order to achieve the goals of the Foundation, and eventually, improve upon what is there now and bring added value as a team member. I really look forward to this and I am very proud of this appointment."
How important is it that players and sportspeople use their influence as a force for good?
"Well, many players actually are involved in charitable organisations, either their own or lending their name to other institutions or organisations.
"It's something very personal and some are more involved than others, some are visionary in what they do and involved in decision-making processes where others prefer to be more behind the scenes or low-key.
"Nobody has an obligation to run in front, but I think we all have an obligation to add value to all those who have given us so much over the years.
"I’ve always seen a lot of goodwill from players to participate in good causes and I’m just happy to continue my part in that without comparing or having expectations of others. I believe we should start with ourselves and try to put as much in as we can."
Who have been your own inspirations and role models through the course of your life?
"The first people are my parents, of course. They’ve always been very positive role models in my life. I would also say some of the teachers I had from school and in my football youth.
"Nelson Mandela, particularly, has always played and still plays a very central role in the core of my mission - enduring situations and starting a path for us to follow and to keep on pushing for those who are less privileged and for a more peaceful world.
"My belief is that peace comes through education, and education has to have, as a backbone, sports, especially in the early stages of life. These are the key elements I believe will change the world. And we have the capacity and the means to, as a team, make that difference.
"Having role models in life – and this is where we go back a little bit to players – I think that the role that players have today, even more than 20 years ago, is to be a positive role model and to be aware that kids are looking up to you and follow your actions and behaviours.
"Those role models have always continued to keep me on the right path – that spiritual path, actually, of giving and adding value where we can."
Mandela talked about the power of sport to inspire change in the world. How important can it be as a social tool?
"He was able to change the face of a whole country and the understanding of unity through sport. So, it’s just a very, very strong, efficient and effective tool when it’s used properly.
"That’s what I believe we should be aiming for: to create and embrace very strong and sustainable projects that use sport as a fundamental tool to improve the overall development and lives of young kids.
"Playing sport between the ages of five and 12 is scientifically proven to help with cognitive and creative development in kids – it should be a right for every child to have."
Clarence Seedorf joins UEFA Foundation for Children board
Clarence Seedorf joins UEFA Foundation for Children board
2022 awards reallocated to support Ukrainian children
Ahead of the UEFA Europa League final on 18 May, the UEFA Foundation for Children Board of Trustees met in Seville on the premises of Fundación Grandes Valores, an NGO supported by the foundation since January 2022.
Chaired by Aleksander Čeferin, this first session of the year opened with the election of a new board member, the most decorated Dutch player of all time, Clarence Seedorf, who has won domestic and continental titles while playing for clubs in the Netherlands, Spain, Italy and Brazil. Clarence has been heavily involved in several social development projects over the past 20 years.
“It is a great honour for me to take a seat on the UEFA Foundation for Children Board of Trustees,” said Clarence Seedorf, four-time UEFA Champions League winner. “I look forward to being involved in decisions that make such a positive impact on the lives our future generation using sport and football.”
Meanwhile, Elkhan Mammadov, the general secretary of the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan, has decided to step down from his role as trustee. The board took the opportunity to thank him for his excellent work and support over the past five years.
2022 UEFA Foundation for Children awards
Due to the crisis in Ukraine, on 28 February, the Board of Trustees decided to allocate the 2022 UEFA Foundation for Children award funding to support for Ukrainian children displaced to neighbouring countries and internally. Initial assistance for Ukrainian children’s hospitals had been forwarded through the Moldovan Football Association on 2 March. The award money – €1 million – is currently being channelled to the neighbouring countries via the UEFA member associations in Moldova, Poland Romania, Slovakia and Ukraine. In other years, these awards are a recognition for European children’s charities recommended by UEFA member associations.
2022 call for projects
Applicants for this year’s awards will be able to submit their projects between 27 June and 31 July. The criteria will be announced in due course and the selected projects will be unveiled at the next Board of Trustees meeting on 16 November.
The meeting ended with a presentation and a guided tour of the Grandes Valores project, a football programme for migrants, refugees, asylum-seekers and children from vulnerable communities that aims to improve these youngsters’ physical and mental well-being, reduce inequalities and break down prejudice towards them.
It is a great honour for me to take a seat on the UEFA Foundation for Children Board of Trustees. I look forward to being involved in decisions that make such a positive impact on the lives our future generation using sport and football.
- Clarence Seedorf, board member of UEFA Founation for Children
UEFA Europa League player mascots dressed by Engelbert Strauss
UEFA Europa League player mascots dressed by Engelbert Strauss
Kits made in the new Engelbert Strauss factory in Bangladesh
For the 2021/22 football season, Strauss became the official sponsor of the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League. Europe’s leading workwear brand is preparing to unveil the new player mascot kits at the UEFA Europa League final in Seville on 18 May.
Engelbert Strauss donated the 22 player mascot kits to German and Spanish children from Fundación Grande Valores to celebrate European diversity. Support from UEFA competition partners makes a big difference to the foundation’s work and includes exclusive events and opportunities.
“We’re delighted that Strauss is partnering with us to support the work of the UEFA Foundation for Children,“ says UEFA Foundation general secretary Urs Kluser. “We’re using the magic of football to bring hope to children all around the world.”
Guided by the same belief that nothing sustains more than education, the company is strongly committed to helping children and teenagers.
“Football brings joy and unites people, says Strauss CEO and brand director Henning Strauss. “And football kicks off positive change worldwide. We’re highlighting this with the UEFA Foundation for Children logo on our new finals kit – turning the strip into a statement.”
There are plans for more joint initiatives between the foundation and Strauss in the future, with a particular focus on Bangladesh, where the workwear company’s new CI factory is located and where Strauss supports local communities as it has done in manufacturing countries outside Germany for several years.
New production technology
As official sponsor of the UEFA Europa League, Strauss will equip the player mascots with football kits created using cutting-edge clothing technology. One of the most ambitious aspects of the kit is its use of ‘energy waves’, the Europa League‘s iconic graphic motif. Thanks to brand new techniques pioneered in Bangladesh, these will be printed across seams without breaks, by welding and taping invisible seams, creating digital prototypes for 3D printing and composing new textile materials.
Football brings joy and unites people, and football kicks off positive change worldwide. We’re highlighting this with the UEFA Foundation for Children logo on our new finals kit – turning the strip into a statement.”
- Henning Strauss, Strauss CEO and brand director
For all pictures (c)Engelbert Strauss
About Engelbert Strauss
Project partner
Engelbert Strauss is Europe's leading work and utility brand. Headquartered 50 km north-west of Frankfurt/Main the company employs around 1600 people and manufactures in 26 countries worldwide. Strauss has been a leader in customizing and branding for decades and is one of the top online retailers in Germany. Strauss has already caused a sensation with extraordinary partnerships in sports and entertainment – including collaborations with global stars such as the rock band Metallica and the Hollywood Stuntmen’s Association. The company’s strategic direction in sports sponsorship focuses on the premium sector: Strauss is official sponsor of the UEFA Europa League, the UEFA Conference League and official partner of the German national football team. The iconic Strauss ostrich also supports the esports player foundation as a kit supplier and promoter of young talent.
UEFA Foundation for Children to Partner with ORIGYN Foundation on ‘NFTs for Good’
Swiss non-profit to provide access to unique pairings of collectibles and NFTs of historic football memorabilia
The UEFA Foundation for Children has partnered with the Swiss non-profit ORIGYN Foundation to mint and sell NFTs created from a collection of historic football memorabilia. Proceeds from the sale of the physical objects and their corresponding NFTs will directly benefit UEFA Foundation for Children’s mission to support children’s rights through funding for health, education and integration projects.
As part of ORIGYN’s ‘NFTs for Good’ initiative, the UEFA Foundation for Children will offer football fans the world over the opportunity to purchase items from a limited collection of physical collectibles. A digital Twin' NFT will be created for each of the one-of-a-kind memorabilia items, which include one of the toss coins that helped determine the outcome of the UEFA EURO 2020 final between England and Italy.
This series of unique sports collectibles donated by the UEFA Foundation for Children, together with the Digital Twin NFTs, will appear exclusively on the ORIGYN-powered NFT marketplace, Impossible Things.
We are thrilled to partner with ORIGYN to bring these important items to the world stage for the benefit of The UEFA Foundation for Children,” said Urs Kluser, the general secretary for the UEFA Foundation for Children. “We share a vision of leveraging next-generation technology such as NFTs to raise money for children and communities around the world. There is no better collective mission.”
About the ORIGYN Foundation:
Project partner
The Swiss non-profit foundation ORIGYN uses intelligent technologies, including computer vision and artificial intelligence, on decentralized computing to identify, authenticate and unlock the powers of ownership for objects of value. As the first digital certification platform built on the Internet Computer (IC), ORIGYN and its verticals generate new forms of value for some of the largest consumer asset classes in the world, including art, collectibles, digital media and luxury goods. Founded in Neuchâtel, Switzerland in October of 2020, ORIGYN operates globally in major technology and blockchain hubs around the world. Its utility token, OGY, is set to become publicly tradable in the second quarter of 2022.
BT’s Hope United and the UEFA Foundation for Children have joined forces to help stamp out online abuse and discrimination through the UEFA Super Cup and a unique community match in Belfast.
This year’s UEFA Super Cup, between Chelsea and Villarreal, is taking place on Wednesday 11 August in Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland. The UEFA Foundation for Children will use the opening ceremony to raise awareness about online hate in sport and among young people with the help of Hope United, a campaign launched by BT, broadcasters of the UEFA Super Cup. Hope United brings together a diverse team of footballers from England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland with the aim of driving change and giving digital skills to people on how to protect themselves and others online.
During the pre-match ceremony, children selected by the Irish FA foundation and Rio Ferdinand foundations will present the Unite Against Hate banner and read a message of hope promoting respect and solidarity online.
To raise awareness of the campaign ahead of the Super Cup, BT Sport hosted a match involving children aged between 14 and 17 from community projects across Northern Ireland that are helping to bridge the sectarian divide and care for refugees who have settled here.
Players from both teams were representing Hope United, supported by footballing legends and BT Sport analysts Glenn Hoddle and Joe Cole, who were acting as coaches for either side. The match was organised by the Irish FA at Crusader FC’s Seaview ground and was treated like a professional match in that it was filmed by six cameras and presented by Rio Ferdinand, Eni Aluko and Jake Humphrey, with Darren Fletcher and Steve McManaman in the commentary booth.
“My work, both on and off the pitch, has taught me that there is no hiding place from social media abuse,” the England and Manchester United FC legend Rio Ferdinand, who is now a BT pundit, explained. “Passions run high during big football tournaments and having seen first-hand the devastating effect that can result from online hate , it is more important than ever that sport unites to combat it.”
“Young people are all too often victims of hate messages and harassment on social media and it is our duty to defend them,” said Urs Kluser, general secretary of the UEFA Foundation for Children. “Thanks to the BT Tech Tips to beat online hate, young people can access real tools that teach them how to detect and respond to abuse but also learn to be more conscious about their own action online and to lead by example.”
About Hope United campaign
Launched ahead of UEFA EURO 2020 by BT and diverse team of male and female players from England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, driven by their own experience of online hate. BT's purpose is to Connect for Good and change attitudes. The BT Hope United website content provides digital skills to tackle hate online. Football values are used to promote team spirit, respect of their peers and learn who to live together.
“My work, both on and off the pitch, has taught me that there is no hiding place from social media abuse,” the England and Manchester United FC legend Rio Ferdinand, who is now a BT pundit, explained. “Passions run high during big football tournaments and having seen first-hand the devastating effect that can result from online hate , it is more important than ever that sport unites to combat it.”
- Rio Ferdinand, England and Manchester United FC legend.
Visa donates another €50,000 to UEFA Foundation-backed
Visa donates another €50,000 to UEFA Foundation-backed charity
Visa Player of the Match winner from the UEFA Women´s Champions League final 2021, Aitana Bonmatí chooses a project for refugee children.
The Player of the Match Award, which has been presented by Visa since 2019, celebrates individual excellence in women’s football. In honour of the award, Visa gives a €50,000 donation to a charity chosen by the winner.
For the second year in a row, Visa donated its Player of the Match prize to the UEFA Foundation for Children, allowing the winner to choose a cause close to her convictions. Aitana Bonmatí decided to support the Movement on the Ground, an organisation that runs sports programmes for refugee children on Lesbos.
Bonmatí presented the €50,000 award to a project that promotes gender equality and social inclusion for refugee children on the Greek island delivered by Movement on the Ground with support from the Barça Foundation and UEFA Foundation for Children.
Aitana Bonmatí, who is an ambassador for the Barça Foundation, said: "I hope this donation helps girls improve their situation and their emotional well-being through sport. It has been very interesting to learn first-hand about the situation on Lesbos and the excellent work that is being carried out."
Adil Izemrane, co-founder of the Movement on the Ground, thanked Visa and Aitana Bonmatí for the donation, which he said: "will enable many more refugee girls to have a safe place to play sports and forget, for a few hours a week, about their hardships in Europe’s largest refugee camp."
Movement on The Ground
Movement on the Ground is a non-governmental organization with core programming on Greek islands. It meets unmet needs during humanitarian crises and provides logistical, financial and service delivery assistance with the aim of improving the dignity of refugee populations. Since 2016, Movement on the Ground has delivered sports programs with refugee children and youth arriving on the island of Lesbos, including the delivery of a Football3 project funded by UEFA Foundation for Children in 2016 and the Barça Foundation's FutbolNet methodology since 2017. Link to the project
Barça Foundation and UEFA Foundation for Children
Since 2016, UEFA Foundation for Children and Barça Foundation have collaborated to provide sports activities for refugee children on the island of Lesbos in Greece. The activities take place in the new RIC refugee camp, after the old camp burned down last September.
More than 82 million displaced people worldwide
There are currently 82.4 million displaced people worldwide, more than 26.4 million of whom have fled to other countries, according to the latest data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Half of these refugees are children who have been forced from their homes because of conflict, violence and persecution. In this difficult context, children and young people are particularly vulnerable and often experience a lack of protection and violations of their rights.
I hope this donation helps girls improve their situation and their emotional well-being through sport. It has been very interesting to learn first-hand about the situation on Lesbos and the excellent work that is being carried out.
- Aitana Bonmatí, football midfielder playing for Barcelona
About Visa
Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) is the world’s leader in digital payments. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, reliable and secure payment network - enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. Our advanced global processing network, VisaNet, provides secure and reliable payments around the world, and is capable of handling more than 65,000 transaction messages a second. The company’s relentless focus on innovation is a catalyst for the rapid growth of digital commerce on any device for everyone, everywhere. As the world moves from analog to digital, Visa is applying our brand, products, people, network and scale to reshape the future of commerce. For more information, visit: visa.fr/blog and @Visa_Fr.
