The City of Philadelphia announced that Goya Foods, America’s largest Hispanic-owned food company, will serve as the presenting sponsor of the Philadelphia International Unity Cup (PIUC) and will donate 5,000 pounds of food to the Nutritional Development Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The Philadelphia International Unity Cup presented by Goya is one of Mayor Jim Kenney’s signature first-term initiatives, celebrating the rich cultural diversity of the City of Brotherly Love and capitalizing on the worldwide appeal of soccer. The PIUC kicks off tonight, with the Mexico vs. Vietnam and Ireland vs. United States games at Ramp Playground in the Mayfair section of Northeast Philadelphia.
“I am thrilled to be working with Goya on our first ever Unity Cup,” said Mayor Kenney. “One of the main goals of this tournament is to bring together the many cultures that reside in Philadelphia. Through this partnership, we will showcase the camaraderie, respect and cooperation for which the citizens of Philadelphia are known.”
Some of the games taking place this weekend include Ukraine vs. Guatemala, Lithuania vs. Argentina and Honduras vs. Germany. After this weekend’s inaugural games, the tournament will continue every Saturday and Sunday until the championship game at Citizens Bank Park on November 5th. The championship game will feature a festival-style tailgate party outside the ballpark and a parade of nations with all thirty-two teams before kickoff.
“We’re proud to be a part of this year’s Unity Cup as presenting sponsor and to support Mayor Kenney’s efforts in celebrating the cultural diversity in Philadelphia through one common passion – soccer,” said Bob Unanue, President of Goya Foods. “Soccer is rapidly growing in popularity in the United States, and we are excited to bring together both the awareness of the sport and our mission to promote the overall wellness of our consumers through our healthy product line and sports.”
“We can’t wait to kick off the Unity Cup this weekend,” said Parks and Recreation Commissioner Kathryn Ott Lovell. “The Unity Cup would not be possible without generous partners like Goya. I am very grateful for their sponsorship, which allows the Parks and Recreation department to engage people of all ages and cultural backgrounds in a citywide soccer tournament that will bring all our neighborhoods together.”
With the support of Goya Foods, the PIUC become a meaningful experience for players and spectators across Philadelphia. The PIUC is being managed and organized by Philadelphia Parks and Recreation in partnership with the Office of Immigrant Affairs, the Office of the City Representative, the Office of Arts & Culture and the Office of the Managing Director. The full schedule can be found at, http://unitycup.phila.gov/schedule/.
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About GOYA: Founded in 1936, Goya Foods, Inc. is America’s largest Hispanic-owned food company, and has established itself as the leader in Latin American food and condiments. Goya manufactures, packages, and distributes over 2,500 high-quality food products from the Caribbean, Spain, Mexico, Central and South America. Goya products have their roots in the culinary traditions of Hispanic communities around the world; their combination of authentic ingredients, robust seasonings and convenient preparation make them ideal for every taste and every table. For more information on Goya Foods, please visit www.goya.com.