Founded in 1994, the FC Barcelona Foundation is a non-profit organisation, promoting and disseminating the cultural, social and educational role of FC Barcelona within the Catalan, Spanish and worldwide community. The FC Barcelona Foundation attempts to achieve these objectives through:


1. Social activities


- support and give impetus to activities attempting to achieve social benefits which encourage full integration of members of the communities with disabilities, immigrants and other marginalized groups.


- support activities in favour of a culture of peace, solidarity, sustainability, the fight against disease and poverty.


2. Cultural activities designed to promote the development and the commitment of Catalan culture and language.


3. Sporting and educational activities


- the creation and promotion of the values of solidarity, hard work, respect for others and tolerance - values always found in sport.


- the promotion of sporting academies and the academic training of sportsmen and women.


FC Barcelona Foundation has now begun a new phase. Along with the club´s motto, "MÈS QUE UN CLUB", the foundation emphasis specially the international and solidarity aspects of FC Barcelona. The club has recently signed an agreement with the UN to support the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, committing the club to give 0.7% of the net income to solidarity activities to help to boost international cooperation for development via programmes and schemes which through the vehicle of sport, principally football, will provide integral support in terms of education, health services, food programmes and social support to the world's most vulnerable and disadvantaged children and their families.

The new Barca shirt with the UNICEF logo will be available in the official Barca shop at the Camp Nou as well as at all the major retail stores across the country at 12:00 (GTM +2) on Tuesday.


The new first-team jersey with the logo of the United Nation's campaign for children's rights will also make it´s debut in the Champions League match against Bulgarian side Levski Sofia at Camp Nou tomorrow night (21.45 GMT +2).

The agreement between UNICEF and FC Barcelona, that had been signed last week in New York has been aknowledged and praised aaround the world. The value of the charity initiative to help the third world has been highlighted by many and was broadcasted around the world.
Following the official ceremony of the conclusion of this important agreement with UNICEF, FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta attended a press conference to discuss this historical event. Joan Laporta then appeared on the most important chaneels around the world among others such as the US news channel CNN, US channel ESPN and the British BBC. The solidarity to the third world and willingness to help, shown by FC Barcelona has had repercussions world wide.


CNN International

In Atlanta, Barca president Joan Laporta took part in a live interview for 'World Sports' on CNN International. The interview was subsequently screened 5 times.


Deports CNN (in Spanish)
Deportes CNN reports of all the important sport events that are of interest to Latin Americans. Deports CNN invited Barça president Joan Laporta to the show to get an insight of the details of the recent agreement with UNICEF.


BBC

The BBC's Spanish part of the radio channel also held a 5 minute interview with Joan Laporta.


ESPN

Joan Laporta also appeared on ESPN, the US TV channel for the Hispanic population. "SportsCenter" went through what was happening in the world of sport, which included the interview with Joan Laporta detailing the finer points of the agreement. Joan Laporta responds to questions to the ESPN network, was also being broadcasted to Asia and Oceania.

Barca´s official website announced that UNICEF and FC Barcelona will publicly announce their alliance to co-operate next Thursday.


Barça´s motto to be "More than a club" will be confirmed by this new and important project and will give a new global hope for vulnerable children. The presentation will be made at the United Nations central office in New York on the 7th September at 17:00 local time (23:00 GMT +2) under de guidance of the executive director of UNICEF, Margaret Venemen and president of FC Barcelona, Joan Laporta.


With this alliance, FC Barcelona will give financial support to projects around the globe. In particular, those which help to protect children where there are humanitarian crises and those where AIDS is on the increase.