PRESS RELEASE
PROCTER & GAMBLE LATIN AMERICA LAUNCHES MILESTONE TWO-YEAR CAMPAIGN IN 15 LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES WITH COMMITMENT TO DONATE US$ 630,000 IN SUPPORT OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS LATIN AMERICACampaign represents first-ever regional sponsorship generating non- restricted revenues that will be shared equally with Programs and Regional Office
Panamá – 20 November 2009
SOLA signed an Agreement with Procter & Gamble Latin America that represents a milestone for our Special Olympics movement across Latin America. P&G Latin America is committed to promoting two campaigns in each of 15 countries during the next two years. Special Olympics Latin America will receive US$ 630,000 as an unrestricted donation from P&G, which will be split with participating National Programs. With this campaign, P&G Latin America becomes the “First Official Regional Partner for Special Olympics Latin America”.
“We are thrilled that P&G Latin America has agreed to partner with Special Olympics Latin America to raise public awareness and to help bring the benefits of our Special Olympics movement to tens of thousands of persons with intellectual disabilities who today are “sitting on the sidelines”. This partnership is unique in its scope and in terms of the impact we anticipate this campaign will have in communities across Latin America far into the future.” (Dennis Brueggemann, Managing Director, Special Olympics Latin America)
P&G Latin America officially launched their two-year campaign in Mexico this past week. Attending the press conference that was held to announce the campaign were a number of world-class athletes, including: Mexican Olympic medalist Iridia Salazar (Athens 2004); Mexican ex-Footballer icon Enrique Garcia Borja (World Cup 1966 and World Cup 1970); and Special Olympics Mexico athletes Pedro Osorio Alvarado (1995 World Summer Games/swimming), Ricardo Rico Rocha (2008 National Games/athletics), Luz Beatriz Rico Rocha (2009 World Winter Games/floor hockey), Maria de Lourdes Rodriguez (1999 World Summer Games/athletics) and Rosa Maria Rodriguez Lugo (2009 World Winter Games/skating).
The first-year campaign will run for three months in each of the designated markets:
a. November 2009 through January 2010: Mexico
b. December 2009 through February 2010: Peru and Venezuela
c. January through March 2010: Central America, Colombia and Bolivia
d. July through September 2010: Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay
For the first time in its history, P&G Latin America is promoting a total of 34 brand products during the campaign. This week massive display units are being assembled in the entrances of more than 2,600 Walmart, Chedraui, Soriana, and various pharmaceutical and other outlet, stores throughout Mexico. These display units feature four Special Olympics Young Athletes, who were selected by P&G from nominations submitted by National Programs: Jose Uceda from SO El Salvador and Laura Isaza, Manuela Vasquez and Nicolas Velez from SO Colombia. The value-in-kind donation for the shooting of these photos for use in the promotional materials is estimated to be US$ 50,000.
P&G recently produced two PSAs for the campaign, which will be shown across Latin America. In producing these spots, P&G invited a total of 17 athletes from Argentina Mexico, Puerto Rico and USA to Argentina for four days of filming. The value-in-kind donation for this production is estimated to be US$ 520,000.
National Program leaders are meeting with their P&G representatives to provide support for their campaign and to develop a long-term relationship with P&G and its retailers. SOLA and P&G will work collaboratively during the second-year campaign to secure partnerships for the National Programs with the P&G retailers. Special Olympics Latin America and P&G believe that this is the start of a lasting partnership that will prove beneficial to both organizations.
“It’s my pleasure and a real honor to be the link between our two great organizations. Our common goals, values and purposes are transforming a corporate agreement into an authentic partnership. This is just the beginning of what I believe will be a fruitful long-term relationship in benefit of thousands of people in Latin America.”
(Antonio Boadas, Vice President of External Affairs, P&G Latin America)
About Special Olympics:
Special Olympics is an international organization that changes lives by encouraging and empowering people with intellectual disabilities, promoting acceptance for all, and fostering communities of understanding and respect worldwide. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the Special Olympics movement has grown from a few hundred athletes to nearly 3.1 million athletes in 228 Programs in all regions of the world, providing year-round sports training, athletic competition and other related programs. Special Olympics now takes place every day, changing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities in places like China and from regions like the Middle East to the community playgrounds and ball fields in every small neighborhood. Special Olympics provides people with intellectual disabilities continuing opportunities to realize their potential, develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy and friendship. Visit Special Olympics at www.specialolympics.org.
About Special Olympics Latin America:
Special Olympics Latin America (SOLA) is currently serving more than 300,000 athletes in 19 countries across the Latin America region, providing year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.
For more information, contact: cecheverry@specialolympics.org
Visit Special Olympics at www.olimpiadasespeciales.org
More than 1,000 athletes from 35 nations are today preparing to compete at the II Special Olympics Latin America Regional Summer Games in San Juan, Puerto Rico on 19th – 27th February 2010. For more information, contact: delegacionesoe2010@olimpiadasespeciales.net Visit the official website of the Games at www.oe2010.pr
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Latin America Contact: Claudia Echeverry
Sr. Manager/Marketing and Communications
Special Olympics Latin America
T: +507 317 0615
E: cecheverry@specialolympics.org
Global Contact: Mandy Murphy
Senior Media Manager, Special Olympics, Inc.
T +1-202-824-0227
E: mamurphy@specialolympics.org