On November 11, 2006, UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour announced a landmark global partnership to further gender equality and promote women's leadership in all spheres of society.
The social responsibility program, which draws upon the history of the Tour and its players in fighting for equality, marks the high level of commitment by the Tour and players to raise awareness of gender equality issues and advance opportunities for women. It also represents the first time that UNESCO is partnering with a professional sports league.
Multiple Grand Slam champion and former world No.1 Venus Williams volunteered to serve as the first global "promoter of gender equality" under the partnership. Tatiana Golovin also became an official promoter in May 2007, as did Zheng Jie in September 2007 and Vera Zvonareva in May 2009.
In November 2008, Tour founder Billie Jean King was announced as a Global Mentor for Gender Equality, along with the funding of the Women's Sports Foundation newly created Billie Jean King Leadership Internship program.
For more information on UNESCO, visit www.unesco.org.
To make a donation to UNESCO's Gender Equality programs click here.
Through the Tour's partnership with Whirlpool, Habitat for Humanity International became one of the Tour's most successful social partnerships. Habitat for Humanity is an international charity dedicated to eliminating poverty housing worldwide in the belief that simple decent shelter is a basic human right.
Through a network of companies and volunteers, Habitat for Humanity has helped change the lives of millions of people all over the world and builds a new home every 24 minutes. To date, the partnership's fundraising schemes have raised over €420,000 since their collaboration, making 100 homes across Europe possible and benefiting many families in need.
For more information visit www.habitat.org/eca.
The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour also supports the following charities:
Make-A-Wish Foundation®
Grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.
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Tennis Against Breast Cancer (TABC)
Formed to expand awareness of breast cancer and raise funds to find a cure.
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First Serve
Empowering young people by providing local tennis facilities and schools with a life skills program.
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