DHL JAPAN DELIVERS URAWA REDS’ 200KG OF FOOTBALL KITS TO CHILDREN IN THAILAND

This is in support of the ‘Heart-full Soccer in Asia’ international exchange program for children

DHL Express, the world’s leading international express service provider, has partnered with the Urawa Red Diamonds (Urawa Reds), a professional Japan-League soccer team, to deliver the team’s football kits and equipment to Thailand for the ‘Heart-full Soccer in Asia’ international exchange program for children. DHL Express Japan transported 200 kilograms of football kits to children’s elementary schools in Thailand, which were needed for the program.

Coaches from the Urawa Reds visited the children’s elementary school, and handed over the footballs and T-shirts from the club to the children.

Tony Khan, President, and Representative Director of DHL Express Japan, said, “DHL strongly believes in the importance of education for children around the world, and has introduced many initiatives to help improve educational opportunity and employability for young people. This is in line with our GoTeach focus, a pillar of the Group’s corporate responsibility program. We are pleased to partner with the Urawa Reds on this international exchange program, to champion education for the children in Thailand who are the future pillars of Asia.”

‘Heart-full Soccer in Asia’, which began as a grassroots initiative by the Urawa Reds when the team appeared in the 2007 AFC Champions League (ACL), aims to convey the importance of ‘enjoyment’, ‘consideration’ and ‘hard work’ through soccer. To date, the program has held events in 17 countries, attracting 8,333 participants. The Urawa Reds have co-sponsored the program since 2009, together with Friends of the United Nations Asia-Pacific (FOUNAP), a U.N.-certified non-governmental organization.

Yoichi Tachibana, President of Urawa Red Diamonds commented, “We are very thankful for the great support extended to us by DHL Express Japan, our top partner, for the ‘Urawa Reds Heart-full Soccer in Asia’ program. We are also very pleased to convey the joy and importance of sports as well as extend the goodwill of our supporters to the children in Thailand through our soccer classes.”