Volkswagen Workers Foundation Announces Partnership with Operation Get Active
The Volkswagen Workers Foundation has established a partnership with the Chattanooga Football Club Foundation and its Operation Get Active initiative through a $100,000 donation to benefit the children participating in the new programme.
The Volkswagen Workers Foundation, a charitable non-profit organisation founded in April of 2015, is the American branch of the Volkswagen Employee Foundation, a German non-profit organisation that supports the education of children through improvement of their living conditions.
“On behalf of Volkswagen employees, I’m proud to announce the partnership of the Volkswagen Workers Foundation and Chattanooga Football Club Foundation’s Operation Get Active,” said Matthias Erb, President of Volkswagen Workers Foundation, Inc. “This partnership also marks the beginning of the Volkswagen Workers Foundation’s charitable work at different locations here in the U.S. We’re looking forward to help strengthening communities and supporting their children,” Erb said.
"Caring for people and communities around our different global locations is an integral part of the Volkswagen culture,” said Gunnar Kilian, Chairman of the Executive Board of Volkswagen Employee Foundation in Wolfsburg. “We, the Board of the Volkswagen Employee Foundation, Volkswagen Workers Foundation are proud to contribute to building a better future for many children in Chattanooga. I would like to personally thank Matthias Erb, Scott Wilson and their team for their efforts. The Volkswagen Employee Foundation is fully committed to support their goal now and in the future," Kilian said.
Operation Get Active is a health initiative that uses the game of soccer to encourage youth to live active and healthy lifestyles and is a programme of the Chattanooga Football Club Foundation. In addition to improving children's physical activity, there is also a strong focus on developing teamwork and leadership.
“I truly believe that soccer is a universal language that has the ability to change the lives of children for the better and Volkswagen Workers Foundation's generous contribution to Operation Get Active shows their commitment to this aim and to the health and well-being of Chattanooga's youth,” said Peter Woolcock, Director of Operation Get Active. “We are extremely appreciative of their support and couldn't be more thrilled to partner with them to bring our soccer programme to as many kids as possible,” Woolcock said.
Operation Get Active launched in the spring of 2016 at 9 inner-city locations across Chattanooga. These locations include elementary schools, private community centres and City of Chattanooga recreation centers. The programme run’s twice a week for ten weeks. This spring alone Operation Get Active has reached over 180 boys and girls, aged 9-12.
"The relationship between Chattanooga and the great people of Volkswagen is deeply rooted,” said Sean McDaniel, General Manager Chattanooga Football Club. “To have their team give back to the community shows how invested everybody is in the betterment of all things Chattanooga. We are proud of the partnership we have with them and anticipate this alliance enriching this city even further," he said.
“I’d like to express my deep appreciation to my colleagues at the Volkswagen Employee Foundation in Germany for donating these funds to help children here in Chattanooga,” said Scott Wilson, Board member of the Volkswagen Workers Foundation here in the U.S. “For years the Volkswagen Employee Foundation in Germany has sponsored programmes around the world and impacted countless young people. This is not a gift of the Volkswagen Corporation, but rather Volkswagen employees in Germany reaching out to help improve the lives of children,” he said.
Volkswagen Workers Foundation Each Operation Get Active participant completes a fitness test and a physical activity and health questionnaire at the beginning and end of the programme. At the culmination of the programme, all participants take part in a soccer tournament. This gives participants the opportunity to meet and play against one another and celebrate the completion of the 10 week long programme. OGA is now entering its summer programme, and in the fall, Operation Get Active aims to expand to even more locations and reach over 400 children.