Laureus Sport for Good Foundation returns for 5th year as beneficiary

Part of the J.P. Morgan donation to the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation in 2018 will be ear-marked toward the Laureus and Hong Kong Rugby 7s exchange, where 12 learners will have the opportunity to use sport as a life empowerment skill.

For the fifth consecutive year, the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge will serve as a benefit and awareness-builder for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.

“It’s been a fantastic partnership,” said Brett Graham, Executive Director for Laureus Sport for Good Foundation South Africa. “Sport is a unifying factor in our country, and at Laureus it is the heartbeat of what we are. Being able to showcase our programs and our athletes at the Corporate Challenge every year is exceptionally valuable to our overall marketing efforts.”

J.P. Morgan will donate in celebration of all 14,000 runners and walkers participating in the April 5 Corporate Challenge at the Wanderers Club.  In the five years of the partnership, the scope of good work has increased dramatically.

“The Laureus Sport for Good Foundation now has over 25 projects in more than 100 communities around South Africa,” Graham said. “We had less than 15 projects when we began this project with J.P. Morgan.  The support of Corporate Challenge has played a huge part in our growth.”

The highlighted Laureus program through the Corporate Challenge partnership is Youth Empowerment through Sport (YES). Launched in 2012, YES focuses on equipping the youth with the technical, vocational and e life skills needed to develop sustainable livelihoods. The program targets school leavers, ages 18 to 25 with attention given to young people who are passionate about sport and the upliftment of local communities.

The J.P. Morgan donation this year will also benefit 100 boys and girls in the Laureus-funded CoolPlay project. A total of 12 learners from the CoolPlay project have been selected to be part of the Laureus and Hong Kong Rugby 7s exchange in April.  This will give the learners the unique opportunity to travel abroad and learn vital skills using sport as a tool to empower then to lead successful lives.

“The Corporate Challenge participants can feel a real connection to these 12 students who will have a life-changing experience through sport,” said Graham.

The donation to Laureus Sport for Good Foundation is part of J.P. Morgan’s commitment to supporting a not-for-profit organization in each of the 13 cities around the world that comprise the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge Series.