Hamilton visit revs-up Milan 2009 Homeless World Cup

Milan, 10 September 2009: Formula One World Champion and Vodafone ambassador Lewis Hamilton made a pit stop today at the Milan 2009 Homeless World Cup.

During his trip to Italy for the Monza Grand Prix Lewis attended the event as a guest of Homeless World Cup funders, Vodafone Foundation. The Formula One World Champion had the opportunity to meet with players from each of 48 nations competing in this yearâ€™s tournament including host nation and two times Homeless World Cup champions Team Italia.

Speaking from the event, Vodafone ambassador Lewis Hamilton said: â€œMeeting the players here today has been a great experience and itâ€™s inspiring to see how the power of sport can change people lives. I hope for a team from my Home nations to win, maybe between us weâ€™ll be able to pull off a double victory this weekend.â€

The Vodafone Foundation announced its support of the Homeless World Cup Foundation in 2008 with a Â£500,000 start-up package, to be granted over two years. The Homeless World Cup Foundation has used Vodafone Foundation funding to significantly grow the organisation, increasing the depth and breadth of its international football programme. In 2009 the Homeless World Cup Foundation announced six newly created posts, including a CEO, International Development Director and two Fundraising Managers as a result of Vodafone Foundation funding. This expansion has helped to facilitate the staging of the 2009 Milan Homeless World Cup and future tournaments.

The aims of the Homeless World Cup Foundation align directly with the Vodafone Foundation, particularly in using the power of sport to change lives and in supporting projects which encourage change from a grass roots level.

The Homeless World Cup is a world-class, annual international football tournament that uses football to energise people who are homeless to change their own lives. The tournament has triggered and supports grass roots football projects in over 70 nations working with homeless people all year round. Each year over 70% of players change their lives for the better. They come off drugs and alcohol, get jobs, homes, education and become football coaches and players. The 7th Homeless World Cup kicked off on Sunday 6th September at the Arena Civica, Sempione Park in Milan and runs until 13th September when the Final will take place.

For more information on Vodafone Foundation visit www.vodafonefoundation.com
To follow all of the 2009 Milan Homeless World Cup action visit www.homelessworldcup.org

ENDS

Photo Captions:

1. Vodafone ambassador Lewis Hamilton makes a pit stop on his way to Monza at the Milan 2009 Homeless World Cup to meet players from the 48 nations participating in the Vodafone Foundation funded tournament

2. F1 Champion Hamilton revs up fans at the Vodafone Foundation funded Milan 2009 Homeless World Cup on his way to Monza today

Media contacts:

Vodafone Group (all Vodafone McLaren Mercedes related queries)
Maria Bellanca
E: maria.bellanca@vodafone.com

T: +44 7919 228228
Vodafone Foundation
Lucy Mart
E: lucy.mart@fourcommunications.com
T: +44 870 626 9906

Vodafone Italia
Rossella Pirozzi
E: rossella.pirozzi@vodafone.com
T: +39 347 3839899

Homeless World Cup
Kat Byles
E: kat@homelessworldcup.org
T: +39 340 112 1189

Notes to editors:

Vodafone Foundation: Over the last five years, the Vodafone Foundation has invested over Â£100 million in social investments around the world. It continues to invest in sport initiatives which have the ability to reach out to the most marginalised and disadvantaged groups in communities around the globe. The Vodafone Foundation currently operates 23 local Foundationâ€™s worldwide, each funding local community projects.

Homeless World Cup: The Homeless World Cup is a world-class international football tournament that has triggered and supports grass roots football programmes engaging 30,000 players who are homeless all year round. Founded by world-leading social entrepreneur Mel Young, the inaugural Homeless World Cup kicked off in Graz, Austria uniting 18 nations. Since then it has gained great momentum in Gothenburg, Sweden (2004), Edinburgh, Scotland (2005), Cape Town, South Africa (2006), Copenhagen, Denmark (2007) and Melbourne, Australia (2008).