FC Barcelona’s President to meet with UNICEF, the Gates Foundation and the IDB in New York

Barcelona (FCB).- During the institutional trip to New York City, Barça’s President, Sandro Rosell, will meet with representatives from three institutions and organisations that are currently working with the FC Barcelona Foundation. The three organisations are the Interamerican Development Bank (IDB), UNICEF and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. These alliances allow the Catalan club and these organisations to help the world’s most vulnerable members of society through sports.

‘FutbolNet’ in Brazil

Rosell’s first meeting will be with Luis Alberto Moreno, president of the Interamerican Development Bank (BID). The results of the agreement signed between the two entities have already reached parts of Brazil, specifically Río de Janeiro. The Foundation’s ‘FutbolNet’ project is working in the Favelas of Complexo do Alemão. The project, which fosters football’s positive values, has directly impacted 250 children between the ages of 8 and 16.

Three different continents with UNICEF

FC Barcelona’s President will then meet with Anthony Lake, executive director of UNICEF. The agreement between the two entities, which was signed in 2006, focuses its efforts in four countries: Brazil, China, Ghana and South Africa. FC Barcelona’s donates an annual amount of €1.5 million to support UNICEF’s social projects. Last year’s work focused on providing sports equipment and improving infrastructure for schools in these four countries. In total, the projects benefited more than 16,000 children and 5,000 teachers.

Fighting polio with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Finally, Rosell will meet with Bill Gates, co-founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The Catalan club is working with the Gates Foundation to eradicate polio worldwide. The disease is on the verge of being eradicated (99%).

Last season, FC Barcelona collaborated in various multimedia campaigns that help raise awareness for the fight against the disease. Thanks to the agreement signed last year, FC Barcelona will be invited to the United Nations General Assembly to discuss the fight against polio, where Sandro Rosell will be given time to explain Barça’s commitment to the cause.