Founded in 1911 in Detroit, USA, Chevrolet has long been one of the world's largest car brands. The company that manufactures the iconic brand, General Motors, operates in more than 140 countries and sells more than 4.9 million cars and trucks a year.
GM was also the first foreign car company in Indonesia, establishing a presence here in 1927. In August 2011, it opened a new plant in Bekasi, producing the Chevrolet Spin, a global sub-compact, seven-seat multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) for Indonesian customers and the overseas market.
In regards to corporate social responsibility, Chevrolet uses football to spread the power of play worldwide. As founding sponsor of the One World Football Project (OWFP) in 2012, Chevrolet has committed to donate and distribute 1.5 million nearly indestructible footballs over three years to organizations working in developing communities. Chevrolet-sponsored One World Footballs have been delivered to more than 60 countries affecting the lives of an estimated 21 million children.
Chevrolet in Indonesia has distributed 5,400 of the footballs across the country, in areas including Nias, Papua, Bali, Central Java, and East Java. The distribution also provided an opportunity to implement a number of education programs to reaffirm its support to empower Indonesian youth.
In April 2014, Chevrolet unveiled the Bawet Event Pitch, located under the Pasopati flyover in Bandung. The football pitch was revitalized on behalf of Rumah Cemara, a local organization that uses football and peer intervention to increase the quality of life for people living with HIV and drug addiction. Manchester United legend Gary Pallister and Bandung Mayor Ridwan Kamil were on site for its dedication. Other highlights from the pitch revitalization project include: a skills drill, a coaching session, a tournament with dozens of local football teams and free footballs.
Chevrolet recently hosted 11 children from around the world – including Firgi and Syifa from Bandung – in Manchester, England to serve as mascots for Manchester United’s Premier League season opener at Old Trafford. These Indonesian youngsters – along with children aged 10-12 from Brazil, China, South Africa, South Korea and the United States – brought football fans closer to their beloved sport and helped spread the power of play.
In addition to serving as mascots, the children attended Manchester United’s famed Soccer School, met club legends and received a tour of the club’s iconic Old Trafford stadium.
The children were selected to serve as mascots due to their love of the game and their determination to overcome a variety of challenges. The overriding message? You can use play to realize that anything is possible. The opportunity to be a mascot was part of Chevrolet’s “What Do You #Play For?” campaign to bring football fans closer to the sport.
Each child’s story and more information about the campaign can be found at www.ChevroletFC.com.
