July 4, 2008
Natalie Mchedlishvili, Georgia Today

Famous Georgian footballer Kakha Kaladze has added another string to his bow. After becoming an international football star, and setting up his investment and development business Kala Capital, Kaladze has added a charitable foundation to his name.

The Kala Foundation is a fund set up to help talented young Georgian footballers whose skills would otherwise go to waste.

Kaladze and his partners – Lorenzo Cipriani, the Executive Director of the foundation, and Italian journalist and acting board member Luca Serafini – held a press conference in Tbilisi on June 2 to out line the foundation’s future plans.

“It is an honor for me to be here today, taking place in such a project. Our partnership started from a big friendship and we have already started working on several projects. I am glad that I was given a chance to share my experience with such activities in Georgia,” stated Luca Serafini.

According to Kaladze, the foundation aims to support young players, and will work in three main directions: sports development, advancement and support education, and social aid programs.

The Kala Foundation even plans to set up special schools in the near future, with the aim of encouraging the development of sports in the country, while assisting youngsters financially so that they may participate in further education while developing their footballing skills.

Moreover, the establishment will provide stipends for university students and will finance social programs geared toward helping children’s care institutions in the capital and the regions as well.

“Progress Bank, a financial partner of Kala Foundation, will also participate in the charity activities. Another partner, the Milan Foundation, established by A.C. Milan to support people in need, will also cooperate with us,” commented Kakha Kaladze.

He continued: “To celebrate our cooperation, we have arranged a friendly match where Tbilisi Dinamo will play A.C. Milan. The match will take place in Tbilisi and the proceeds will be used to support charity actions of the Kala Foundation.”

An under-21 soccer tournament will also be held under the auspices of the Kala Foundation, with Italian, Georgian and Ukrainian teams set to take part.

The idea of establishing the foundation came from Kaladze, and the main goal is to create a suitable environment for children to develop their skills and knowledge. The first project organized by the foundation is called “Georgian Project,” which will commernce in September.

At the press conference on July 2, the official Kakha Kaladze website was launched, and is available in four languages: Georgian, Italian, Russian and English. It can be found at www.kaladze.it.

“It’s because Kakha is so well-known in all of these countries,” Cipriani explained. “On the web-site people will have a chance to observe all the signature goals, news and interviews of their favorite football player.”

Cipriani went on to explain about the foundation’s chartiable acts, saying: “The first step arranged by the foundation is the donation of ten computers to Samtredia High School. Soon we will assist orphanages and take part in other social activities.”

The Kala Foundation is to publish Kakha Kaladze’s autobiography, with the proceeds of course, going back into the Kala Foundation. The book was already promoted at a press conference in Italy; however the book has not been published yet.