Fundraising campaign by GO during the 2010 World Cup

GO, Malta’s leading communications and entertainment provider, has teamed up with fervent Juventus and Italy fan Joe Pellegrini to offer football fans the opportunity of a lifetime whilst giving a helping hand for charity during this year’s World Cup.

As part of the campaign ‘Be a Champion for Charity’, GO has made it possible for members of the general public to bid for some exclusive merchandise linked up with the Italian national side, winners of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Objects tied up with the World Cup experience include an authentic replica of the FIFA World Cup signed by Italian footballers, autographed and framed football gears of Italy favourites Buffon and Del Piero and autographed prints of Cannavaro, Del Piero and Buffon. Proceeds of the auction will go towards the Malta Community Chest Fund.

The impressive gold-plated World cup trophy replica is signed by the season 2009/10 Juventus players who in 2006 played in the World Cup, namely Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro as well as Gianliuigi Buffon, Alessandro Del Piero, Mauro Camoranesi, Vincenzo laquinta and Fabio Grosso. The latter scored the decisive penalty against France in the 2006 World Cup final in Berlin. The autographs were obtained following Pellegrini’s recent visits to Turin to meet the Juventus team. The trophy is 400 mm in height, 180 mm wide and weighs 5.65kg.

To further enhance the World Cup aura of excitement and thrill associated with the sports-related charity event, GO has arranged for public viewing of the World Cup trophy replica and the other signed memorabilia in a number of its retail outlets as follows: Friday 18 June, from 1 pm till 7pm at GO’s outlet in St Paul Street Naxxar, Saturday 19 June from 10am to 1 pm at GO’s outlet in South Street Valletta, Sunday 20 June from 10am to 1 pm at GO’s outlet in Bay Street shopping complex St George’s Bay, Monday 21 June, from 3pm to 7pm at GO’s outlet in Republic Street Victoria Gozo, Tuesday 22 June, from 4pm to 7pm at GO’s outlet in Psaila Street Birkirkara, and Wednesday 23 June, from 4pm to 7pm, at GO’s outlet in Antoine de Paule Square Paola.

Meanwhile, from Thursday 24 June to Sunday 4 July, from 6.30pm to 11.30pm every day, the items can be viewed at the GO Trade Fair stand at the Malta Fairs and Conferences Centre (MFCC), Ta’ Qali.

The auction of the World Cup trophy replica and the other exclusive items will be held on Monday 5 July at the New Dolmen hotel, which is also supporting this initiative. More details about this event will be issued in the coming days – closer to the date.

Members of the general public who are keen on bidding for the items can register their interest by clicking on GO’s website, www.qo.com.mt. or visit one of the GO retail outlets or other venues mentioned above when the items are actually on display at the particular locations. Prospective bidders will be requested to simply give details of their name, surname, e-mail and mobile number.

Speaking about the initiative during the launch of the GO World Cup Campaign Be A Champion for Charity, GO Chief Executive Officer, David Kay said: “We are delighted to have come up with this exceptional opportunity to raise funds for the Community Chest Fund. For long years now GO has maintained excellent relations with this organisation and has always given its active contribution towards its fund-raising events

“We know for sure that members of the local community will rise to the occasion yet again and join forces with GO to help us achieve our goal of raising funds towards a worthy cause simultaneously becoming more closely involved in the heady thrill of World Cup fever at its peak. Specifically for this reason, our are launching our strong appeal to the general public ands ask them to: “Be a champion for charity,” he said.

Joe Pellegrini, partnering with GO in the ambitious World Cup campaign, said: ” I am indeed very proud to be partnering with GO and share with the public some unique memorabilia, including a World Cup replica signed by six of the players who were in the Italy squad in 2006 and who I’ve met in Turin in order to sign this item and the other memorabilia.”

During the news conference held at GO’s retail outlet in Naxxar, Darlene Zerafa, representing the MCCF Board, thanked GO for launching this fund-raising campaign in aid of the Malta Community Chest Fund: “We are grateful to GO for its ongoing support towards enhancing the quality of life for the less fortunate members of the local community through fund-raising initiatives in aid of the Malta Community Chest Fund. We also thank Mr Pellegrini for making such unique items available for charity. We hope that several football fans, especially those siding with Italy, will take part in the auction and raise funds for the Malta Community Chest Fund.”

Peppi Azzopardi from Xarabank, who is supporting this event, praised GO and Mr Pellegrini for this initiative and encouraged the public to view the items at GO’s outlets and attend the auction on 5 July to make sure a good amount of money is raised for the Malta Community Chest Fund.