The Catherine Freeman Foundation

LATEST NEWS

Gant Becomes Catherine Freeman Foundation's First Corporate Partner
Feb 27, 08:23 AM

27/02/08 – Gant teams up with charismatic former athlete and Australian Olympic Gold medalist – Cathy Freeman as their newest commitment campaign international ambassador in support of the Catherine Freeman Foundation.

This image campaign continues our theme, “Our commitments reflect our passions” in which dedicated organizations and committed individuals join forces with Gant to tackle issues that make a real difference. Ambassadors in earlier campaigns include two of today’s most influential green pioneers – environmentalist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and ocean explorer Jean-Michel Cousteau.

Like Jesse Owens did in 1936, Emil Zatopek in 1952 and Nadia Comaneci in 1976, Cathy Freeman stood out above all other performers at the Sydney Olympic Games 2000. For the first time in Olympic history, a participating athlete was given the honor of lighting the Olympic flame at the opening ceremony. Ten days later, Cathy Freeman, the pre-race favorite and hometown heroine, overcame the enormous pressure of expectations to emphatically win the gold medal in the 400-meter sprint in her own country.

In July 2003, Cathy Freeman announced her retirement from the track. Since then she has dedicated a great deal of time and energy on a new challenge – the establishment of “The Catherine Freeman Foundation”. The foundation’s aim is to inspire and create opportunities for less privileged youth and disadvantaged communities to help them reach their full potential.

“I am only too aware that I was one of the lucky ones and I feel I am now in a position to be able to give something back and help make a difference for others. My hope is that if kids today can see that someone like me can become the best 400-meter runner in the world through dedication, desire and hard work, they may get inspired to go for their own dreams,” says Cathy Freeman.

She continues:
“I’m very excited about the collaboration with Gant and very grateful for its donation to the foundation. Gant’s global organization has given me a unique opportunity to reach and inspire young people to become so much more than they could ever imagine.”

Gant shares her beliefs and conviction.
“We believe in the individual’s power to achieve positive changes and influence the world around us. Cathy Freeman makes an excellent spokesperson. Her passion, commitment and determination to help disadvantaged individuals – especially kids – achieve a better life is admirable, deserves recognition and is a great inspiration to us all,” says Per Sjödell, Marketing Director of Gant AB.

The Cathy Freeman campaign will coincide with the launch of the Spring/Summer collection in the northern hemisphere starting in March 2008 in more than 70 countries where Gant merchandise is available. In-store material and an Internet site will also feature the campaigns.

Gant Australia will be utilizing the advertising campaign beginning in August 2008 at the time of the Beijing Olympics and the launch of the Spring Summer Collection in the Australian market.

Gant is available at Gant stores in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, David Jones nationally and leading boutiques.

www.catherinefreemanfoundation.com
www.gant.com

(ends)