BENGALURU FC, on Thursday, announced the launch of BFC Cares, its social outreach initiative that will see the club partnering with four organisations from the city in a bid to step outside the confines of the field and do more for the community.
To kick-start the initiative, the Federation Cup champions will be joining hands with Magic Bus, Dream a Dream, Sneha Care Home, and Voice of Stray Dogs.
"We've always been fans of the city and in just a little more than two years, Bengaluru has embraced the team in a special way. We're always looking for a chance to be able to give back as much as we can and BFC Cares will play a very big part on that front. We've spent a considerable amount of time that involved interactions with these organisations to see how best we can do meaningful work together. Magic Bus and Dream a Dream are doing some great work with children through sport as is Sneha Care Home in their running of a fantastic residential school for children living with HIV. As for The Voice of Stray Dogs, BFC has always been an animal friendly club and to tie up with the world's largest city-wide dog rescue didn't need much thought," said Mustafa Ghouse, COO of BFC while announcing the initiative.
Bengaluru FC has already been successfully running the 'BFC in the Community' program that involves youth coaches and first team players from the club visit pockets around the city and conduct clinics on alternate weekends. "Our BFC in the Community program will now be under the umbrella of BFC Cares. We've always been about making a genuine difference. The club will be setting aside a portion of its revenue that will go toward the initiative," added Ghouse.
The association will see the club and the players help promote the work that the organisations are doing, lend expertise to implement training programs and clinics and help in fundraising.
We are excited to partner with BFC; we recognise and respect the tremendous success of BFC in using football as a social development among young people in variety of ways. We believe through this partnership, many young people will be able to learn new techniques and practices and develop key life skills to face the fast changing world, said Vishal Talreja, Co-Founder & CEO, Dream a Dream
"Bengaluru FC and Magic Bus has been working together for a year now. BFC has conducted a football clinic in our Doddananagar community for Magic Bus Football Team players and volunteers. We are thrilled to further be a part of the BFC Cares initiative and their commitment to moving children out of poverty, said Mrinalini Sanyal, Head - South Zone, Magic Bus.
"We've always been fans of BFC. They aren't just fantastic footballers, but guys with a great heart, too. Their unofficial mascot, Dimi, is a pure Indian streetie, and they've looked after him through thick and thin, nursing him back from horrible injuries. We have a lot in common - we love dogs, we are committed to the city of Bangalore, and we're passionate about doing what we do really, really well. VOSD is proud to be associated with BFC, and be a part of BFC Cares, says Rakesh Shukla, Founder VOSD