One World Play Project and Tea Collection Launch Citizens FC to Connect Children Around the World

Partners Will Match Every Purchase: Donating Jerseys and Soccer Balls to Empower Soccer-loving Children Worldwide Through Play

BERKELEY, Calif. and SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 21, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, One World Play Project and Tea Collection launched Citizens FC (Citizens Football Club) to connect soccer-loving children around the world and provide new play opportunities. Together, the partners will sell, donate and distribute jerseys and soccer balls to youth worldwide.

Citizens FC, presented by Tea Collection and One World Play Project, connects children all over the globe through their shared love of soccer. The Citizens FC line includes soccer jerseys from Tea Collection along with One World Futbols from One World Play Project. The Citizens FC jersey color will change every season as Tea Collection travels to a new destination. Jerseys are made with 100% polyester, moisture-wicking performance fabric. The One World Futbol is designed to last in any environment—an ultra-durable soccer ball that never needs a pump and never goes flat, even when punctured.

Connecting Children Around the World: Many Nations. Same Game.

Citizens FC was inspired by Tea Collection's work with the Global Fund for Children and Daniel Tillias, who leads SAKALA, a safe haven for young people, which includes a community garden and soccer program in Haiti. The children in SAKALA's soccer program come together to play, but learn much more than soccer drills. They learn valuable life skills, including leadership, teamwork and responsibility. Daniel mentioned his kids did not have jerseys to wear—at that moment, Tea Collection CEO, Leigh Rawdon, realized they could create soccer jerseys that would connect kids all over the world, and Citizens FC was born.

Through Citizens FC, Tea Collection and One World Play Project hope to bring children together with the transformative power of play. Soccer is such a great way to make that connection. Children can quickly connect and learn about one another, realizing there's another child in a different country who loves the same sport—and wears the exact same jersey.

You Buy One, We Give One

When you purchase a Citizens FC jersey ($49) or soccer ball ($39.50), we will donate the same items to youth in need around the world. This Spring, Citizens FC will be donating to the following four recipients:

• SAKALA (Haiti)
• Muti Onlus (Italy)
• Asociación Civil Los Pioneros (Peru)
• Boys and Girls Club of Oakland (USA)

"We founded Tea to celebrate the beauty in cultures around the world. We didn't want to simply be another children's clothing company. We wanted to be a children's clothing company that could do good," says Leigh Rawdon, Tea Collection CEO and co-founder. "We want to break down barriers and open minds. To show kids that no matter where we live or what language we speak, we all care about the same things. With Citizens FC, kids can find a place of belonging and commonality in our great big world."

One World Play Project and Tea Collection believe play has the power to connect and unite us, to transform lives and communities. Play creates bonds that transcend race, culture, gender and ideology. By connecting children across barriers, we're building a community of global citizens and empowering them to play, work and live together to reach their full potential.

"At One World Play Project, we believe play has the power to connect and unite us, to transform lives and communities. We are committed to providing valuable play resources and opportunities for children worldwide," says Lisa Tarver, One World Play Project co-founder and chief giving officer. "Citizens FC enables us to continue expanding our mission—creating new opportunities for children around the world, even those living in the most challenging circumstances, to experience the joy and transformative power of play."

Every purchase you make brings the joy of play to soccer-loving children around the world, helping build a global community of little citizens. To shop and give, visit www.citizensfc.com.

About Tea Collection

Based in San Francisco, Tea Collection makes children's clothing for ages 0-12 that is inspired by their travels around the world. Tea believes all cultures have beauty that deserves to be celebrated. So twice a year, Tea designers explore a new region of the world and then interpret those discoveries into a collection of easy, modern clothing for children, clothing that makes the foreign familiar.

Tea Collection clothing is available on TeaCollection.com and can be found in over 300 boutiques across the US as well as in all Nordstorm stores. Follow our adventures on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.

About One World Play Project

One World Play Project makes, sells and distributes products and services to enable play around the world, especially for those living in the harshest environments where play is nearly non-existent. The company is a B Corporation, harnessing the power of business for social good. Collaborating with sponsors, organizations and individuals, the company works to support, enable and expand the transformative power of play in all its forms—anywhere and everywhere. To date, One World Play Project has brought the power of play to more than 45 million youth in over 175 countries worldwide.

One World Play Project is headquartered in Berkeley, CA with regional offices in Asia, South America and Africa—and distribution centers in Fremont, CA and Voerde, Germany. For more information, visit oneworldplayproject.com or check out our community on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

Media Contacts:
Andrew Magliulo
pr@oneworldplayproject.com
(408) 896-0344

Jessie Bandy Doloresco
jessie@teacollection.com
(415) 321-2559

Photos accompanying this release are available at:

http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=38580

http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=38581

CONTACT: Andrew Magliulo
                             pr@oneworldplayproject.com
                             (408) 896-0344
                             
                             Jessie Bandy Doloresco
                             jessie@teacollection.com
                             (415) 321-2559