UNICEF and Fut­bol Club Barcelona: a glob­al part­ner­ship for children

Exhibited by
SOFII
Added
June 10, 2010
Medium of Communication
Target Audience
Awareness, corporations
Type of Charity
Poverty / social justice
Country of Origin
International, Spain
Date of first appearance
September, 2007

SOFII’s view

Once again, UNICEF scores for children through forming a valuable, useful partnership. Football is an extremely popular sport all over the world and teams and players receive enormous publicity from the media and, indeed, adulation from their fans. Together UNICEF and the Barcelona football club will use this power in numerous ways to further the cause of children.

Summary / objectives

The Futbol Club Barcelona Foundation has linked with UNICEF to support integrated programmes for orphans and vulnerable children, particularly those affected by HIV/AIDS.

Futbol Club Barcelona has also provided UNICEF with a unique opportunity to include the UNICEF logo on the front of their premier football jersey for the first year of the proposed alliance.

Background

The legendary sports club has long been known as ‘more than a club’, active in numerous social causes through its philanthropic foundation. The new global alliance with UNICEF, the world’s leading agency working on behalf of children, marks a five-year commitment to extending the club and its foundation’s work on behalf of children.

Influence / impact

FC Barcelona has a global fan base estimated at 60 million people. For UNICEF: ‘This partnership joining UNICEF and the Barcelona Futbol Club will help push open a door of hope to thousands of children.’ said Ann M Veneman, UNICEF Executive Director, during the announcement of the new partnership at the United Nations. ‘Barcelona shows us that sport can be a powerful, positive force for children.’ For FC Barcelona: At FC Barcelona, we are aware of the global dimension of soccer. The increasing number of FC Barcelona supporters and fans around the world in the last few years has been spectacular. The club has an obligation to respond to this enormous positive wave. The best way to do so is by using soccer as a tool to bring hope to millions of vulnerable children in need around the world”, said Mr. Joan Laporta, President of Futbol Club Barcelona.

Results

The financial results are part of the partnership – the FC Barcelona Foundation will donate 7.5 million euros (1.5 million euros per year over five years).

But the partnership will bring far greater returns. The value of featuring UNICEF`s logo on the front of the club’s premier football jersey for the first year of the alliance is valued at 20 million euros a year. For UNICEF it is a donation that will remind football fans everywhere of the importance of putting children first.

‘For UNICEF this is a priceless donation,’ said Ann Veneman.

Merits

This is a unique opportunity to unite children around the world through one of their favourite sports – football.

At the end of their day with FC Barcelona, young players from Uganda’s Kid’s League have a surprise meeting with Cameroonian football star Samuel Eto’o.
Futbol Club Barcelona President Joan Laporta hands UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman a jersey sporting the logos of the new partnership.
Young footballers from the Kids League pose for photos before the FC Barcelona-Zaragoza game at Barcelona’s Camp.