The European Sponsorship Association (ESA), Europe’s trade body for Sponsorship has announced a partnership between the 2017 ESA Excellence Awards and Play for Change, an international sport for development charity that uses the values of sports to empower and make a positive change in the lives of under-privileged children and their communities around the world.
ESA will help to increase awareness of Play for Change whilst raising money through a silent auction held on the night of the 2017 ESA Excellence Awards.
Now in its 11th year, the ESA Excellence Awards were created by ESA, the membership body that seeks to inspire, unite and grow the sponsorship industry. The awards celebrate the very best campaigns across Europe and continue to go from strength to strength.
“We’re excited to announce this partnership between the ESA Excellence Awards and Play for Change. Our members, both agencies, rights holders and brands, play a key role in sport right across Europe and so this partnership gives us an opportunity to put something back. We’re looking forward to supporting Play for Change’s mission to improve the lives of children right around the world”. Andy Westlake, ESA Chairman
“We are delighted the ESA Excellence Awards have chosen to support our Play for Change platform to enhance life opportunities for under-privileged children, and to create communities that are empowered to develop and thrive. We are looking forward to working together to raise awareness of our projects which make such a difference to so many”. Valeria Ignarra, Executive Director, Play for Change.
The ESA Excellence Awards showcase the very best work in the sponsorship industry. Every year we receive submissions from some of the most innovative, thought provoking and memorable sponsorship campaigns. The awards include ESA Sponsorship of the Year and ESA Best of Europe as well as sector-focused categories such as the Arts & Culture Sponsorship of the Year award.
Winners of the 2017 ESA Excellence Awards will be announced at the prestigious ceremony to be held at the world famous Science Museum, London, on the evening of 7th February 2018.
Visit for further details of the ESA Excellence Awards.
Book tickets for the ESA Excellence Awards ceremony, 7th February 2018, The Science Museum, London.
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Notice to Editors
For more information please contact:
Charlie Staerck
Marcomms & Events Manager – European Sponsorship Association (ESA)
email or telephone: +44 (0)20 8390 3311 | www.sponsorship.org
About European Sponsorship Association:
The European Sponsorship Association (ESA) is a membership association whose mission is to inspire, unite and grow the sponsorship industry for the benefit of its members. ESA will do this through education, guidance, representation, the recognition of excellence and the sharing of best practice and performance. Its many activities, which include policy, governance and corporate responsibility, education and training, information, networking and the ESA Awards, all have these goals as their core objectives.
ESA’s reach encompasses all types of sponsorship activity from sport, broadcast, education, the arts and culture through to environment and the community. Its membership includes sponsors, rights holders, agencies and consultants, professional advisors and suppliers.
About Play for Change:
Play for Change Charitable Trust (PFC) is dedicated to fund and deliver high quality sports and educational programmes that are designed closely with local communities in the context of their need to address inequalities and in partnership with local organisations.
PFC believes sport can play a significant role in children’s cognitive, emotional and physical development and wants to see a world where all children are equipped with the vital life skills that they need for their future.
All Play for Change sport and educational programmes share three main values: play, learn and develop. PFC rebuilds playgrounds so children can play in safe and stimulating environments away from harm; they provide workshops so children learn the life skills they need for happy, healthy futures; and they support educational and employment opportunities to help create communities that are empowered to develop and thrive.
Play for Change has developed projects in Nepal, Belgium, London, Bali and Miami and will develop more in Europe, Africa and Asia next year.
Play for Change (PFC) was set up in 2013 as a Charitable Trust by sports business entrepreneur Andrea Radrizzani (Owner and Chairman of Leeds United Football Club, Co-Founder of MP & Silva, and founder of global sports provider ELEVEN SPORTS) with the mission statement of giving children the best start in life. Since its origin, the charity has impacted over 8,000 children over three continents using several types of sport.
Each year during SPORTEL, the most influential business convention for the sports media industry, Play for Change hosts the TV Sports Awards in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Their main fundraising event showcases and highlights Excellence and Innovation in the Sports Media Industry, whilst raising funds for the charity, supported by the most reputable brands.