Arsenal Launches First Charity Partner

Arsenal Football Club has announced that it has chosen Save the Children as its first ever global charity partner, and the club will support the charity on a range of education projects in the UK and overseas, to help the poorest children get a better start in life and give them the chance to grow and fulfil their potential.

Through this work, the club will help Save the Children towards its aim of transforming the lives of over three million children a year through education by 2013.
 
The partnership was officially introduced to supporters at the weekend’s Emirates Cup, when one of many youngsters in the UK to benefit from Save the Children’s Families and Schools Together (FAST) programme – a project which will be supported by Arsenal during the partnership – carried the match ball out onto the pitch ahead of the game between Arsenal and New York Red Bulls.

The FAST programme helps increase parents’ engagement in their children’s education by encouraging them to perform everyday tasks and develop their skills together.
 
Arsenal will also support Save the Children’s Eat, Sleep, Learn, Play! (ESLP) initiative, a programme that assists children living in the most desperate need by providing  household essentials like a child’s bed, a family cooker or educational books and toys.
 
Arsenal chief executive, Ivan Gazidis said: ‘We are extremely proud and excited to partner with Save the Children. We have a tradition on and off the pitch of bringing the best out of young people and know the Arsenal badge can open the door to youngsters who may otherwise not be reached’.

‘By working with Save the Children we will provide more young people around the world with the skills and opportunities they need to be the best they can’.
 
Justin Forsyth, chief executive of Save the Children, added: ‘We are absolutely thrilled to be joining with Arsenal Football Club on this exciting new partnership. With our combined local and global reach we can make a huge difference to children’s lives in the UK and overseas’.  

‘Indeed, it seems that everywhere I travel children tell me they support Arsenal! This partnership is built on our common belief that every child is born to fulfil their potential. By working together on education we can help thousands of children do just that’.