CSR
Corporate social responsibility: Ferencváros out in front
Football is a power for good all over the world – and more and more people are benefiting from clubs making social responsibility one of their goals. Top European sides such as Juventus and Barcelona are reaching out across continents to help communities in Africa and South America, but you don’t have to spend millions or be a giant of the global game to make a big impact.
One of the best examples is Ferencváros in Hungary, a club with a long track record of campaigning and corporate social responsibility awareness.
Every credible club may well be on the same path, but few tackle it with the same enthusiasm as the current Hungarian champions. For decades now, the Budapest club – nicknamed “Fradi” after the city district they’re located in – has linked up with charities and organisations across the country, helping some of the nation’s most deserving causes and engaging with tens of thousands of young people.
But it’s the unique nature of and the ideas behind their campaigns that set the club apart and provide inspiration for others around the world. For example, to boost one of the biggest charities helping disabled people in Hungary, various players took part in a flashmob dance on the banks of the Danube, surprising fans and onlookers alike.
It feels like there is no area of the city and wider community untouched by the Fradi community programmes – and that’s just the way the club wants it to be. Players have also handed out food for the needy in front of the stadium and adopted animals from a nearby shelter, as well as raising awareness of conservation projects for the Danube River through the city. It also has a support agreement with a specialised children’s clinic and backs the Hungarian Cancer League. All of this is part of a long-standing commitment to good causes that goes back decades and has placed Ferencváros at the forefront of campaigns against racism and discrimination in Hungary.
The club’s reach is far and wide and includes a cooperation agreement with the Hungarian Interchurch Aid, one of the biggest charity groups in the country. The club also initiated a programme to pay for special care for elderly former players, while it also helped to mark Royal Deaf Awareness Day and organised a free sight-test event for its fans at the Groupama Arena. The Movember movement saw not only an impressive amount of facial hair grown but also warm clothes, books, food and Christmas presents collected and distributed to needy families. Throughout the year, the club takes part in an ever-growing number of CSR activities, with more and more broad social impact.
Current projects include:
• Fradi School Program
• Anti-discrimination campaign
• Fradi Fair Play Award
• Telekom Active Supporters Programme
• Support for disabled supporters
• Visiting hospitals
Fradi School Program
This project enables students to meet their Ferencváros icons face to face and learn about the importance of continuing their studies and adopting healthy, sporting lifestyles.
So far, it has reached more than 160 schools and 55,000 schoolchildren over the past three and a half years. The youngsters learn about the great history of the club, take part in contests, win Fradi memorabilia and get to see a home match at the Groupama Arena with their parents. Following the success of the initiative, the club received a Fair Play Award from the Hungarian Olympic Committee in 2017.
Anti-discrimination campaigns: We Are One
Ferencváros has been campaigning against discrimination and exclusion since 2012, working hard to raise awareness of the issue. As part of its fair play educational campaign, among many anti-discrimination events, it also created a huge 30-metre banner with the palmprints of Fradi players, supporters, staff and fans from dozens of different age groups, nationalities and regions. The huge banner was unfurled across the stands as the teams came out, with the club’s eagle crest and slogan: “We Are One”.
Fradi Fair Play Awards
The club recently established the Fradi Fair Play Committee and awards.
Staying true to the club’s motto (Morality, Strength, Unity), the committee promotes fair play and the values of “Fradism”. It emphasises moral rules, respect and non-violent and doping-free sport. The committee seeks out and rewards people who have set an example for the community with their work, lifestyle or acts. The awards range from the “Real Green-White Hero” for any fan, player, manager or employee who carries out an act of great fair play, to the “Noble Act” plaque that honours people who perform acts of kindness in the community.
Active Supporters Programme
This programme gets supporters active and helps with their health and fitness through organised sessions led by club coaches. Fans and other members of the community join in everything from dance steps to walking football to yoga to keep themselves in shape. Hundreds of people take part, and to highlight the work of the programme it now has its own section on the weekly “Fradi TV” programme.
Support for disabled supporters
Each year, the club selects a new project to make a practical impact on the community, and this year has seen a new accessible parking area opened at the Groupama Arena. Disabled supporters can now access the stadium from a secure parking area just a few metres from the entrance – without any bumps along the way and avoiding the crowds when there is a capacity crowd. Once they are inside the stadium, the state-of-the-art design gives the supporters easy mobility and clear views of all the action.
Visiting hospitals
The club has a long-standing tradition of visiting hospitals to bring some joy to patients. Wearing specially made green and white “Fradi” jumpers, the players hand out presents and lift the spirits of patients both young and old. This may not be unique in the world of football, but the regularity and importance of the visits puts it at the top of the club’s list of priorities.
Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought new challenges for the club, and stadium operator Lagardère Sports Hungary donated EUR 115,000 to local hospitals fighting the disease. The club’s official catering partner, Groupama Arena, has also been delivering breakfast and lunches to local health workers since the start of April. The latest initiative is the “Together at Home” campaign, which provides health supplies, food products and club merchandise to 500 season ticket holders above the age of 65.
International Project Manager Balint Mate says: “Our top priority is to inspire and educate our own community and a broader audience through our activities and programmes. We intend to serve as a benchmark and hope that we can inspire others.”
It all adds up to a club at the heart of its community, and as Executive Vice-President Zoltan Nyiri says: “Sport is friendship, unity, helping the weaker. These things are all of higher value than the results themselves.”
