Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance launches online crowd funding initiative

The Edelweiss Group has been closely associated with Mary Kom and has supported champions like her in their quest for Olympic success through its philanthropic arm - Edelgive.

The objective for Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance (ETLI) to initiate this arises from the need to build more champions for Mary Kom and support infrastructural developments for such athletes. Also in a way it will bring about awareness and visibility for sports other than the popular ones

Though the current objective of this crowd funding initiative is to build infrastructure for Mary Kom’s Boxing Academy, going forward, ETLI could look at covering more sports and helping support champions in all forms of sports.

Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance has had a long standing association with Mary Kom and has provided crucial support which she needed to pursue her dreams.

EdelGive Foundation, the strategic philanthropic arm of the Edelweiss group and Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ), an organization that builds teams of athletes and sports persons who can be potential Olympic Gold winners at Olympic Games, helped her in achieving her goals.

Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance (ETLI) has also supported her in fulfilling her financial needs by providing Rs. 2 crore life cover. ETLI is now associated with the movie Mary Kom and would also like to make a difference by helping the country develop more champions like Mary Kom. Edelweiss is promoting the film in the hope it will inspire more Indians to join sports and inspire organizations to come forward and support champions like Kom.

Commenting on the launch of the product,  Deepak Mittal, CEO, Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance Company Limited said, “This being our fist crowd-funding initiative to help build infrastructure for Mary Kom’s boxing academy, we are trying to time it right when the biopic movie on Mary Kom has released. The objectiveis to help Mary Kom in her endeavours for creating her own boxing academy along with the need to spread awareness about parallel sports in India. Our first step towards crowd-funding has already started with the launch of a website needforchampions.com on the sidelines of the release of the film. We will not stop at any specific amount but will continue raising funds as and when she requires.”

Commenting on the development, World Champion M.C Mary Kom said, “Building sufficient infrastructure for my boxing academy is of utmost priority to me currently. I also plan to build hostels for men and women, boxing rings, provide free food, tracksuits etc. Through the movie and initiatives like crowd-funding the nation will be aware of the existence of parallel sports like boxing which can equally do the nation proud. I would thank Edelweiss for their continuous efforts in helping me put together my academy. Hoping to create many more Mary Kom’s in future.”