P&g Reveals ‘thank You Mum’ Next Step
Procter & Gamble, a Worldwide Olympic Partner, has announced plans to raise $25 million to help say ‘Thank You Mum’ by helping establish and sustain youth sport programmes around the world, as part of its 10-year partnership with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Marc Pritchard, P&G Global Brand Building Officer, said: ‘At the start of our ‘Thank You Mum’ program, we asked mums everywhere, what would be a great way for us to help you and they said – “Help support youth sports because sport helps mums too. It helps mums raise healthy, happy kids. This is why we are committing to support not just the mums of Olympians – but every mum who does whatever it takes to make her child’s life the best it can be.’
‘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 added: ‘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.’
GB Olympian Paula Radcliffe, helped P&G announce their global commitment in Innsbruck and is also a Pampers spokesperson, commented: ‘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 mums and families world-wide.’
GB bronze medalist Robbie Grabarz and US Olympians, Kerri Walsh and Tyson Gay, were also in attendance.
Marc Pritchard concluded: ‘By investing in youth sport, we can honor our commitment to mums and to the IOC by supporting families and helping grow tomorrow’s Olympians.’
In addition to P&G’s commitment to youth sport, the Company has also activated several programmes 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 mums and families.
