Launches new website: oneworldplayproject.com
BERKELEY, Calif., Nov. 24, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- One World Futbol Project, an award-winning B Corporation, today announced that the company has expanded its focus to become One World Play Project. What started with an inspiration—to help youth living in the toughest conditions play to their hearts' content through an ultra-durable soccer ball—has grown into a mission to support, enable and expand the transformative power of play in all its forms—anywhere and everywhere. As part of the company's expanded focus and to support its mission, One World Play Project has also unveiled its new website today, oneworldplayproject.com.
Where Play Happens, Change Happens
Research indicates that play is a biological imperative. Children need to play to learn, grow and be healthy—physically, psychologically and emotionally. Play helps individuals and societies recover from trauma, cope with challenging situations and create bonds that transcend race, culture, gender and ideology.
"From an evolutionary point of view, research suggests that play is a biological necessity. There is evidence that suggests the forces that initiate play lie in the ancient survival centers of the brain--the brain stem--where other anciently preserved survival capacities also reside. In other words, play is a basic biological necessity that has survived through the evolution of the brain. And necessity = importance." Dr. Stuart Brown, MD Co-Author of Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul, 2010.
"When we first started the company, we understood that play was important to the healthy development of children, but we didn't realize how scarce play was in many places worldwide—and how critical a role it actually plays in the lives of everyone, not just youth," said Tim Jahnigen, founder and chief innovation officer of One World Play Project. "We've seen that play enables hope, optimism and opportunity and that creating chances for play changes lives. With our expanded mission, products and services, we are committed to helping individuals and communities transform themselves and the world around them through play."
The Impact of Play—and an Ultra-durable Ball
One World Play Project will continue to expand on the success of the company's flagship product, the One World Futbol, with the debut of additional products and services in the coming year. The One World Futbol is an innovative ultra-durable ball that never needs a pump and never goes flat, even when punctured multiple times.
"Since we began deliveries of One World Futbols, the impact we've seen have given us a deeper understanding of play and its potential to heal, grow and change society as a whole," said Lisa Tarver, founder and chief giving officer, One World Play Project. "With just a single ball shared by a group of kids, we've seen conflicts instantly forgotten, despair replaced by joy and collaboration begin. The effects are immediate—and because the One World Futbol's durability enables sustained play, the impact is lasting and transformative. In play, every child is a super hero, dreams can be realized and healing begins—that is the power of play."
The impact of the One World Futbol has been accelerated by the company's collaboration with its founding sponsor Chevrolet. In May 2012, Chevrolet committed to support the donation and distribution of 1.5 million Chevrolet-branded One World Futbols over three years. The companies recently celebrated a historic milestone—the donation of the one millionth Chevrolet-sponsored One World Futbol in South Africa (September 2014). Together, One World Play Project and Chevrolet continue to make play possible for even more youth around the world.
Turning the World into a Field of Play
With an expanded focus, new name and website, One World Play Project is reinforcing the company's commitment to the power of play through the development of products and services to enable play in all its forms. Through the company's new website oneworldplayproject.com, individuals, groups and corporations can learn more about One World Play Project, purchase Buy One, Give One products, support organizations worldwide working with youth living in disadvantaged communities—and connect with One World Play Project to join the movement to bring play to children who need it most. The website also features resources and stories on the importance and impact of play—and invites supporters submit their own play stories, images and videos.
One World Play Project will continue to collaborate with existing and new corporate sponsors, partners and individuals to influence and expand the dialogue around the importance of play. By working together with those who are equally passionate about the power of play, One World Play Project will create new opportunities and help change the negative effects of the play deficit found worldwide.
About One World Play Project
One World Play Project makes, sells and distributes products and services to enable play around the world, especially for those living in the harshest environments where play is nearly non-existent. The company is a B-Corporation, harnessing the power of business to ignite social change. Collaborating with sponsors, organizations and individuals, One World Play Project works to support, enable and expand the transformative power of play in all its forms, anywhere and everywhere. To date, One World Play Project has brought the power of play to more than 35 million youth worldwide.
One World Play Project is headquartered in Berkeley, CA with regional offices in Asia, South America and Africa—and distribution centers in Fremont, CA and Voerde, Germany. For more information about One World Play Project, visit oneworldplayproject.com. Follow @OneWorldPlayPrj on Facebook, on Twitter and on Instagram.