Partners of the Americas’ A Ganar Wins Prestigious Beyond Sport Award

London, United Kingdom, October 30, 2015 --(PR.com)-- Partners of the Americas’ A Ganar program was announced as the winner of Beyond Sport’s Barclays Sport for Employability Award at a star-studded ceremony late this month. This is A Ganar’s first time winning a Beyond Sport award and third year making the shortlist in at least one category.

Through field and classroom sport-based activities, A Ganar helps youth in Latin America and the Caribbean transfer lessons from sport, including teamwork, communication and leadership, into market-driven skills and attitudes. A Ganar connects youth with mentors and provides vocational training, internships and opportunities for community service. A Ganar has worked in 19 countries and served more than 14,000 youth over the past ten years.

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom David Cameron set the tone for the proceedings with a video message to the audience stating, “Day after day it’s the stars on the pitch who make the headlines, but tonight it is right to stop and pay tribute to you, the stars beyond the field of play, the people who show that by going beyond sport we can use the games we love to tackle some of the greatest social challenges in our world today.”

The 39 finalists for the seventh annual awards represented 23 sports from more than 60 countries. A Ganar was one of four programs shortlisted for the Sport for Employability Award, which was a new category this year. Other organizations nominated included HITZ – Premiere Rugby, Ocean Academy – Sport Tourism with Purpose, and Street League.

In addition to winning the Employability Award, the A Ganar program was selected as one of four organizations to speak on a panel at Beyond Sport’s opening event. Nadia Moreno, A Ganar’s Technical Director, addressed Beyond Sport’s attendees, as well as guests from the development community in London, about the power of sport to change the lives of youth across the globe.

Nick Keller, the Founder of Beyond Sport, said, “Tonight’s shortlist and winners demonstrate that sport can contribute solving many of society’s issues. With the support and true collaboration from the corporate sector we can work together and change lives and communities to an astonishing level – I am very excited and proud to be a part of it.”

As a prize for winning the Employability Award, A Ganar will receive a support package to help it gain visibility through Beyond Sport’s channels and global network. Since 2009, Beyond Sport has awarded over $5.5 million worth of business support and funding that has allowed more than 150 winning and shortlisted projects to grow and become sustainable.

The mission of Partners of the Americas is to connect people and organizations across borders to serve and to change lives through lasting partnerships. These partnerships create opportunity, foster understanding, and solve real-life problems. Inspired by President Kennedy and founded in 1964 under the Alliance for Progress, Partners is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization with international offices in Washington, DC. Get involved at www.partners.net.

Beyond Sport's Global Partners are Barclays, TIME and UNICEF. For more information on Beyond Sport and the Beyond Sport Awards, visit www.beyondsport.org.