Images: GM

When a major automotive company steps up for the good of the world, people take notice, and this in-turn helps both company and community. Chevrolet has been a major name in the philanthropic movement for some time now, and according to Forbes, they will continue to reach out in one area in particular for the better of both the brand and society.

We’re talking about the One World Futbol Project–an organization that provides indestructible soccer balls to less fortunate children all across the world and reaches out to communities to encourage play among its young citizens. As part of a three-year partnership with the organization, Chevrolet has helped touched the lives of over 35 million kids worldwide with the distribution of over one million soccer balls. As you can see in the video above, even a simple indestructible ball can mean a world of difference in underprivileged communities.

Coming up next year, the One World Futbol Project is being re-branded as the One World Play Project. This comes after the decision to expand from just providing soccer balls to some of the most remote and underprivileged areas in the world to providing other valuable play items, including components of other popular sports. Now the focus won’t be just on soccer balls and teaching kids to play soccer, but the value of play in everyday life and the future of the world’s children.

Though the organization is re-branding, Chevrolet is continuing their partnership with the One World Play Project and will give 500,000 more balls to underprivileged children between now and May of 2015.

So what does this mean for both brand and society? Well, Chevrolet became a “founding partner” of the One World organization in the hopes of being seen as a socially-conscious brand. This helps the brand be viewed more positively in a society that expects major companies to not only exist but to also give back to the community.

While their intentions may have been somewhat self-motivated, Chevrolet has made a huge difference in the lives of kids all over the world by funding the distribution of so many indestructible soccer balls. And for a major automotive manufacturing brand, you can’t ask for much more than their conscious choice to better future generations as well as shed light on what the brand is truly about!