FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp (NYSE: FDX) and the world’s largest express transportation company, enters its third season as Main Sponsor of the UEFA Europa League with a second game-changing delivery already under its belt.
Since becoming main sponsor of the competition in 2016, FedEx has collaborated with the UEFA Foundation for Children and global not-for-profit streetfootballworld on a program of community projects using football as a platform for social change.
Following a successful initiative in Madrid, FedEx funded a second “Field in a Box?” – an artificial turf football pitch delivered in two shipping containers to the town of Mr?gowo, north-east Poland. The local community took ownership of the pitch at an opening ceremony on 31 August 2017.
“As Main Sponsor of the UEFA Europa League, FedEx aims to use its involvement in professional football to connect with people on a personal level. In Ca?ada Real, we saw the positive impact putting a playing field in a community can have. It’s rewarding for FedEx to open a second pitch here in Mr?gowo, and feel the same optimism surrounding a project we know can open up new possibilities for people who live here,” said David Binks, president of FedEx Express in Europe and CEO of .
FedEx, the UEFA Foundation for Children and streetfootballworld were joined at the official inauguration of the pitch by the Mayor of Mr?gowo, UEFA ambassador and retired Polish goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek, and members of the local community. FedEx team members celebrated the opening of the pitch by participating in a football3 training session and tournament with young local players – a methodology that turns the football field into an important arena in which to develop life skills such as dialogue, respect and team work.
“Football has a proven ability to bring people together and change lives. We’re grateful that organisations like FedEx, who are affiliated with football at a professional level, extend their support to the football for good movement and recognise, not just the need, but the potential for projects like ‘Field in a Box?’ and football3 teaching methodologies to impact young people in communities like Mr?gowo,” said Dr. Vladimir Borkovic, network director, streetfootballworld.
Local charity M?odzie?owe Stowarzyszenie Inicjatyw Sportowych (MSIS), a streetfootballworld partner in Poland, will maintain the pitch in the community and ensure its sustainable use.
“The decision to build this football field in Mr?gowo has already elevated the aspirations of people here. The pitch will be greatly beneficial in terms of community development, helping to integrate the people of Mr?gowo with their neiours and the municipality, and encouraging independence. Our aim for this pitch – to become a football3 training facility—means the pitch will not just benefit young people who use it, but also allow the teaching of football3 to spread beyond Mr?gowo and have a broader impact in Poland,” said Arkadiusz Kamil Mierkowski, MSIS.
The ‘Field in a Box?’ program is funded as part of FedEx Cares, a broader pledge to invest $200 million USD in more than 200 communities by the year 2020. Plans to expand the program include additional pitches for communities on three continents—ensuring FedEx will continue to complement its professional football sponsorship with locally beneficial initiatives.
“We are delighted that FedEx approach to social responsibility aligns with the football for good movement. As a global logistics business that is committed to giving back on a local level, FedEx is naturally positioned to expand the ‘Field in a Box?’ program on to other continents. Together we look forward to improving the lives of young people through football, not just in Europe, but in underserved communities globally,” said Pascal Torres, general secretary, UEFA Foundation for Children.
FedEx Express是FedEx Corp（NYSE:FDX）的子公司，也是世界上Zui大的快递运输公司，作为UEFA Europa League的主要赞助商进入了第三个赛季，已经开始了第二次改变游戏规则的交付。
自2016年成为比赛的主要赞助商以来，联邦快递与欧洲足联儿童基金会和全球非营利街头足球世界合作，开展了一项社区项目，将足球作为社会变革的平台。
继马德里的一项成功举措之后，联邦快递资助了第二个“盒子里的田地？”——一个用两个集装箱运送到Mr？镇的人造草皮足球场？波兰东北部的戈沃。当地社区在2017年8月31日的开幕式上获得了球场的所有权。
联邦快递欧洲区总裁兼首席执行官David Binks表示：“作为欧洲足联欧洲联赛的主要赞助商，联邦快递的目标是利用其对职业足球的参与，在个人层面与人们建立联系。在Ca？ada Real，我们看到了在社区中建立一个竞争环境所能产生的积极影响。联邦快递在gowo先生这里开设第二个球场是值得的，并对一个我们知道可以为居住在这里的人开辟新可能性的项目感到同样的乐观。”。
联邦快递、欧足联儿童基金会和街头足球世界共同出席了该球场的正式落成典礼？戈沃、欧足联大使、退役波兰门将耶日·杜德克以及当地社区成员。联邦快递团队成员通过与当地年轻球员一起参加足球训练课程和锦标赛来庆祝球场的开幕，这种方法将足球场变成了一个重要的舞台，可以培养对话、尊重和团队合作等生活技能。
街头足球世界网络总监弗拉基米尔·博尔科维奇博士说：“足球已经证明有能力将人们团结在一起，改变生活。我们很感激联邦快递等在专业层面与足球有联系的组织，为足球的良好运动提供支持，并认识到‘盒子里的场地？’和足球教学方法等项目的必要性和潜力，以影响像戈沃先生这样的社区的年轻人。”。
当地慈善机构M？奥兹？波兰街头足球世界合作伙伴owe Stowarzyszenie Inicjatyw Sportowych（MSIS）将维护社区的球场，并确保其可持续利用。
MSIS的Arkadiusz Kamil Mierkowski表示：“在戈沃先生建造这个足球场的决定已经提高了这里人们的愿望。这个球场在社区发展方面将非常有益，有助于戈沃先生的人民与他们的邻居和市政当局融合，并鼓励独立性。我们将这个球场作为足球训练设施的目标意味着这个球场不仅将使使用它的年轻人受益，还将使足球教学超越戈沃先生，并在波兰产生更广泛的影响。”。
“盒子里的田地？”该计划是联邦快递关爱计划的一部分，这是一项更广泛的承诺，到2020年将向200多个社区投资2亿美元。扩大该计划的计划包括为三大洲的社区提供额外的球场，以确保联邦快递将继续通过当地有益的举措来补充其职业足球赞助。
“我们很高兴联邦快递的社会责任方法与足球公益运动相一致。作为一家致力于在地方层面回馈的全球物流企业，联邦快递自然有能力将‘盒子里的场地？’计划扩展到其他大陆。我们期待着通过足球改善年轻人的生活，不仅在欧洲，而且在全球服务不足的社区，”欧足联儿童基金会秘书长帕斯卡·托雷斯说。
