Nike operates in more than 160 countries globally. Within each of its four main regions- Americas, US, EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa) and AP (Asia Pacific), there are countless projects supported by Nike that bring sport and support to the areas of the world that need it most. For the AP region’s Nike Philippines office, its community programming works with local governments and organizations to help provide stability and sport to kids who face obstacles and instability at home.
“Our goal is to ensure we share our success to a wider community,” said Mia Trinidad-Sun, HR Manager for Nike Philippines. “We do this through employee volunteerism, donations, play surfacing and we invite athletes to partner with us in inspiring youth.”
Nike Gives Hope
As part of the three-year “Nike Gives Hope ” project, Nike Philippines partnered with the Hope Foundation, a non-profit organization that helps sexually and physically abused children in the Philippines. From 2004 to 2007, Nike worked to better the lives of children at the Hope Foundation center in Laguna through facility improvements, employee volunteers and product donations. Before Nike built the center's new basketball court, there were no facilities to accommodate a sports program. Since Nike’s involvement, kids have received new equipment and apparel, spent a day at a theme park with Nike employees, participated in a mini-sports tournament day and visited with retired Filipino Basketball star, Alvin Patrimonio.
Eliseo Belen School
In partnership with the KIDS Foundation, Nike's “Out of the Streets, Into the Courts” program has taken on a new three-year youth-oriented project with The Eliseo Belen School in Pampanga, Philippines. A new basketball court from Nike Philippines is slated for construction this year. The new court will allow the school to start a sports program for the elementary school. As part of the program, NBA star, Kobe Bryant, met with 20 kids from the Eliseo Belen Elementary School in 2007. The backboards for the court were signed by Kobe Bryant as a reminder of his inspirational visit to Manila.
For more information on Nike Philippines visit www.nikebiz.com
For more information on the Hope Foundation visit http://www.hope-foundation.org/
For more information on the KIDS Foundation visit http://www.kidsfoundation.org