Mumbai Indians dedicate first home tie to `Education For All` initiative

Mumbai: In its fifth year now, Mumbai Indians` social initiative `Education For All` is set to take a leap forward when over 18,000 underprivileged children from various NGOs will flock the historic Wankhede Stadium for the Mumbai outfit`s first home match here on Saturday.

Mumbai Indians had flown nine underprivileged children to Dubai during the IPL`s UAE leg as part of the first step for this season`s initiative. The children had the opportunity to meet and interact with their stars in the team and watch them in action at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. An initiative led by Mumbai Indians` owner Nita Ambani, the franchise is one of the first teams to recognise the potential of using its global fan base to enhance awareness about a compelling social issue and has found support amongst its fans and sponsors for the cause. A gathering of over 18,000 underprivileged children at the stadium would stand testimony to Mumbai Indians belief and strong commitment in support of this cause. Tomorrow is probably a first in sporting history in this part of the sub-continent, where an entire stadium will be full of underprivileged children for a professional and competitive match. The `Education for All` initiative has been able to meaningfully impact over 50,000 underprivileged children from various NGOs engaged in supporting and imparting life skills to their respective wards. Mumbai Indians had invited 9,000 such children from the society for one of its home match on April 13, 2013 and had even dedicated its IPL victory to the cause -- a record documented in the Limca Book of Records. Mumbai Indians management would be deploying about 425 BEST and private buses for movement of children with about 2000 volunteers, one lakh food boxes and a control room to monitor and map all the coordination.