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- BA to host charity Mini soccer tournament to raise funds for needy children in Uganda and other parts of the world
- Tournament to become an annual event on the Corporate league calendar
- BA to donate a revolving trophy which will be played for as a season opener for by Corporate League teams
British Airways and the Corporate League have entered a partnership to raise funds for disadvantaged youngsters in Uganda, through ‘Flying Start’ a BA and Comic Relief charity partnership initiative that raises fundsforunderprivilegedchildren all over the world.
Fundraising for the charity will be done through charity mini soccer tournament to be held at the Kyadondo Rugby Club on Sunday 23rd February, 2014 featuring top Ugandan corporate teams with each team donating one million shillings to participate.
Making the announcement during a press conference at the British Airways offices, Faith Chaitezvi,British Airways Country Commercial Manager, Uganda said “we have entered this partnership with the corporate league because our goals, objectives and values are aligned. The corporate league is a solid organisation with a long and proud record of supporting charitable causes by bringing corporate companies together; BA has always believed that the best way of achieving tangible results in the field of Corporate Social Responsibility is by pooling resources together with likeminded partners”.
She continued “We appreciate that so many of the leading corporate companies have already registered for the tournament and willing to give back to the community, this is a welcome sign; we encourage many more companies to come and join us as we raise money for this cause which is a continuation of projects we have supported in the past”. Previous CSR projects BA has sponsored in Uganda include mosquito nets donation project in Hoima district where BA gave away thousands of nets to families in area’s afflicted by Malaria and a vaccination programme in Kawempe division.
Commenting on the partnership, Richard Kawere, Chairman of the Corporate League said ”We happy to join BA and other companies to raise money for this noble cause and are excited to add another activity to our annual Calendar. The BA charity soccer tournament marks the beginning of another highly competitive year for the Corporate League which is now in its 12th season, we believe this charity league opener will become a much anticipated season curtain raiser in the years to come.
Talking about the composition of the teams Richard noted that each team would be made up of seven players one of which must be female with three substitutes, a team coach and a team manager. The winning team will receive the BA Charity Shield and a British Airways World Traveller return air ticket to fly to London, while all its members will be awarded with medals. The best female and male players, best goal keeper will also receive awards. Some of the teams who have already confirmed participation in the tournament include Civicon Group, G4S, AAR, DFCU Bank, SSL Logistics to name but a few.
Commenting on the partnership Faith expressed her gratitude to AAR Health Services who are sponsoring the first aid and medical requirements and G4S who are donating security support for the day.
“Our partnership with Corporate League is one that embraces a common value of Corporate Social Responsibility for which all the corporate companies participating in the annual league passionately share. As British Airways we are glad to be a part of this event which we have agreed to sponsor as an annual revolving trophy. Faith concluded.
