MANILA, Philippines—In the pursuit of bringing the healing “power of play” to disadvantaged children and youth, Chevrolet has made a special delivery of more than 17,000 nearly indestructible One World Futbols to schools and communities in the Philippines.
On February 7, 2014, Chevrolet handed over the ultra-durable footballs to seven non-profit organizations and programs in a ceremony held at the Philippine Marine Headquarters in Taguig City.
Representatives of recipient organizations, namely World Vision Philippines, SOS Children’s Village Philippines, Fairplay for All, Young Men’s Christian Association of the Philippines, Salesian Society of St. John Bosco Philippines, LBC Foundation and the Philippine Marine Corps and Rappler.com’s “Footballs for Peace” Project were present during the ceremony to receive the footballs on behalf of their sponsored communities and schools.
Chevrolet is the founding sponsor of One World Futbol Project, a mission-driven, B-corporation which was established in July 2010. One World Futbol inventor Tim Jahnigen was inspired to start the company after watching news footage of youth in Darfur playing a football game using a ball of trash made from twine. With children living in war-torn and poverty-stricken communities in mind, and musician Sting’s initial funding, Jahnigen developed the ultra-durable footballs which are designed to outlast and outplay hundreds of regular soccer balls, sustaining play in any environment.
According to Chevrolet Philippines President and Managing Director Atty. Alberto Arcilla, “The One World Futbol is an invention that addresses the needs of children to play and discover.”
Further, he added that “Working together, Chevrolet and One World Futbol Project are bringing the joy of football and play to children and youth in disadvantaged communities and schools so that children can learn, grow and interact no matter their circumstance and hopefully will build their confidence, provide direction and purpose to better their future.”
One World Futbols will be distributed to communities and schools in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao in the first quarter of 2014.