Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG), a Worldwide Olympic Partner, today announced
plans to raise $25 million to help say ‘Thank You Mom’ by helping establish and
sustain youth sport programs around the world, as part of its 10-year
partnership with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
“At the start of our ‘Thank You Mom’ program, we asked moms everywhere,
what would be a great way for us to help you and they said – “Help support
youth sports because sport helps moms too. It helps moms raise healthy, happy
kids. This is why we are committing to support not just the moms of Olympians –
but every mom who does whatever it takes to make her child’s life the best it
can be,” said Marc Pritchard, P&G Global Brand Building Officer.
He added, “Through our leadership brands including Pampers®, Tide®,
Gillette® and Pantene® we have already exceeded our goal of raising 5 million
dollars in 2012. More than $6 million is going to support sports development, school equipment, youth funds
& scholarships and places in summer sports camps across the world.
Today’s announcement means extending our plans until the end of our ten-year
IOC partnership working with NOCs from around the world to increase the
opportunity for more children to experience sporting & Olympic values.”
IOC President Jacques Rogge said, “I
am delighted to see the success of P&G’s world-wide youth sport program and
welcome this commitment to extend through to the 2020 Olympic Games. By
partnering with the global Olympic Movement, P&G has committed to touching and improving lives
through sport – particularly the lives of young people. Investment in youth
sport is essential to the future of the Olympic Movement.”
US
Olympian and London 2012 Gold Medalist Kerri Walsh helped P&G establish a
Youth Fund in the US and is working with P&G’s biggest brand Pampers to
help inspire babies with the spirit of play.
“Sport
has played a rich and meaningful role in my life since early childhood and, as
a mother, I value the role it plays in helping my children have healthy,
well-rounded lives. Supporting
today’s little athletes, whether or not they grow up to become tomorrow’s
Olympians, is essential. Play helps babies develop, just as sport helps
children learn important life skills and I’m delighted to help P&G and
Pampers® in their announcement today,” she said.
GB
Olympian Paula Radcliffe helped P&G announce their global commitment in
Innsbruck and is also a Pampers spokesperson. “I genuinely believe it’s
important for all children to have sport in their life as it has so many
benefits; not just health benefits, but self-confidence, self-esteem, working
as a team, better results at school. As a mother, I know this starts in
childhood. Play has a massive role in a baby’s development just as sport can
help nurture happy, well balanced kids, and I am delighted to help P&G and
Pampers in their commitment to support moms and families world-wide,” she said.
US Olympian Tyson Gay has been part of the Gillette Get Started
campaign. “I was born with sport in my blood and, as a child, my passion was
nurtured by my parents and grandmother and then through training programs at
school. With their support, the seed of inspiration I had as a child has grown
to help me become the athlete I am today. I believe that all children deserve
the same support to give them a great start in life,” he said.
GB
Olympian and bronze medalist Robbie Grabarz helped support P&G’s announcement
and acknowledged the role that his heroes had in helping him get a good start. “Support
for young athletes is essential. Helping P&G support kids to experience
sport is an honour for me, given the fact that without the support of Roger
Black, Steve Backley and the Ron Pickering Foundation, I wouldn’t be here with
a bronze medal today,” he said.
Marc
Pritchard concluded, “By investing in youth sport, we can honor our
commitment to moms and to the IOC by supporting families and helping grow tomorrow’s
Olympians.”
The Thank You Mom campaign is being brought to life across all
media channels and in-store with a worldwide retailer program that began in
April and runs through August. Olympic Games-themed P&G branded
products are featured in more than 4 million stores across the globe.
In addition to P&G’s commitment to youth sport, the Company has also
activated several programs aimed at leaving a positive and lasting Legacy
post-London 2012. These include a promise from P&G brands Ariel®/Tide®, Flash®,
Febreze® to help London get ‘Games Ready’ through its UK Capital Clean Up
campaign, which has dedicated more than 5000 hours of cleaning, filled more
than 1000 bags of litter and helped recruit and train 8000 volunteers to act as
‘city ambassadors’ and a global P&G promise to leave a ‘clean footprint’ at
the end of The Olympics by donating the contents of the P&G Family Home to
local charities that support moms and families.
For a
full list of assets and information related to the P&G Thank You Mom
campaign, including photos and video, visit www.PGThankYouMomMediaCenter.com.
Photocaption: Marc Pritchard,
Global marketing and brand building officer at P&G, Timo Lumme, Managing
Director IOC Television & Marketing Services and London 2012 Olympians
Kerri Walsh and Tyson Gay of the USA, Paula Radcliffe and Robbie Grabarz of
Great Britain pose for pictures on stage during a Legacy event to announce a $25
million commitment by P&G to youth sport during the London 2012 Olympic
Games at the London Media Centre on August 9, 2012 in London, England. (Photo
by Samir Hussein/Getty Images For P&G)
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