AkzoNobel has entered into a three-year partnership with the Cruyff Foundation in order to support the organization's projects to make sport more accessible to children all over the world.
The agreement will establish AkzoNobel as one of the top partners and preferred paint supplier of the Cruyff Foundation, allowing both parties to join forces and create safe sporting environments in communities across the globe.
Launched by famous Dutch footballer Johan Cruyff, the foundation is dedicated to setting up projects for mainly disabled and unprivileged young people. Since it was formed in 1997, soccer fields (known as Cruyff Courts) have been created in neighborhoods where children lack the possibility to play sports in a safe environment.
"We are very proud to team up with the Cruyff Foundation and support their work through the delivery of our colors and coatings," said Conrad Keijzer, member of AkzoNobel's Executive Committee responsible for Performance Coatings. "The partnership underlines our commitment to contributing and giving back to our local communities across the world."
Carole Thate, Director of the Cruyff Foundation, added: "We are proud and grateful that AkzoNobel has decided to support the Cruyff Foundation. Their contribution will help to roll-out our sports projects in countries like Brazil and India, providing children and young people who do not always have access to a safe sport environment with a great opportunity to develop their talent and skills."
One of the Foundation's latest projects, Schoolyard14, is designed to create a more sporting and challenging environment at schools in the Netherlands in order to prevent inactivity among young people.
The agreement with AkzoNobel was signed by Conrad Keijzer and Carole Thate in the presence of Johan Cruyff at the recent Cruyff Foundation Cup, an annual fundraising football tournament held in Amsterdam.
