- Kia Canada aligns 2014 Drive
Change initiative with the sport of soccer assisting underserved
youth, providing access to soccer through three free national
soccer clinics
- Over 450 kids to receive a pair of new soccer cleats
nationally
- Drive Change Day launches national soccer equipment drive
through Kia Canada Dealers
MISSISSAUGA, ON, Aug. 21, 2014 /CNW/ - Kia Canada Inc. kicked off
its fourth annual Drive Change initiative today, revealing its 2014
plan by pairing Drive Change with the sport of soccer nationally.
This year, Kia's efforts will focus on helping underserved youth
develop soccer skills and gain confidence by interacting with
positive role models, and having fun playing one of the fastest
growing team sports in Canada.
This will be accomplished through Kia's partnerships with the three
Canadian Major League Soccer (MLS) teams by presenting free soccer
camps in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal. Additionally, from August 21st to September 30th participating
Kia Canada dealerships will collect
new and lightly used soccer equipment with a national equipment
drive for donation in an effort to engage more kids and assist in
providing the wherewithal to play the sport.
"Kia's Drive Change initiative is about making a
positive and lasting difference in Canadian communities." said
Maria Soklis, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Kia
Canada Inc. "Together with our soccer partners and dealer network
and through the power of sport, we will be able to make a
difference for underserved youth who may otherwise not have had
this experience."
In July, Kia along with the Vancouver Whitecaps
FC and the Vancouver Police
Department (VPD), launched a four day, no-charge Pee Wee Soccer
School. The camp provided over 300 local youth the ability to
access the sport of soccer and develop their skills and confidence
with volunteers from the VPD. Kia
Canada directly supported the VPD's "Soccer Cleat Program"
which provides new soccer cleats to inner-city youth in the early
fall prior to the start of the new season.
In partnership with the Montreal Impact, Kia
provided over 60 inner-city kids a free soccer clinic at Saputo
Stadium. The three day camp on August
18th through 20th included Montreal
Impact coaches and staff introducing clinic attendees basic soccer
drills. All attendees were provided with free Adidas soccer cleats
at the conclusion of the clinic.
Today in Toronto at the Kia Training Ground, Kia along
with the MLSE Foundation launched its third edition of KickStart
featuring an eight-week soccer program in 15 Toronto Community
Housing communities. Over 300 youth participated in the program,
ages 6 to 12 to build soccer skills, self-esteem, fair play and
leadership. Each participant was also excited to receive free
Adidas soccer cleats which kicked off the program.
About Drive Change
As the social responsibility cornerstone to
the Kia Canada Inc. brand, since its inception in 2010, Drive
Change has made a profound impact in communities across
Canada. Canadians have made a difference by coordinating food
drives, lending a hand at a local shelter, public park cleanups and
helped contribute to what Drive Change Day stands for. As a long
standing partner with M.A.D.D.
Canada supporting the national school assembly program has
allowed Kia Canada to drive
awareness on the importance of safe roads in communities across
Canada. Drive Change is about making a difference, no matter how
big or small the initiative is.
Kia Canada
regional and head office employees will participate in numerous
events throughout their local communities on or around August 21st. For the third straight
year, 100 per cent of the national dealer network will support
Drive Change in 2014 clearly demonstrating the company's
compassionate commitment to the initiative. For more information
visit www.kia.ca/drivechange
About Kia Canada Inc.:
Kia Canada Inc. (www.kia.ca -
www.facebook.com/kiacanada) a maker of quality vehicles for the
young-at-heart is a subsidiary of Kia Motors Corporation (KMC),
which was founded in 1999 and sells and services high quality,
class leading vehicles like the Soul, Forte, Optima, K900 and
Sorento through a network of 186 dealers nationwide. Kia Canada
Inc. employs 159 people in its Mississauga, Ontario headquarters and four
regional offices across Canada, with an all-new state-of-the-art
facility in Montreal. Kia's brand
slogan "The Power to Surprise" represents the company's global
commitment to surprise the world by providing exciting &
inspiring experiences that go beyond expectations.
SOURCE KIA Canada Inc.