As a continuation of the brand's First Strides
initiative and in collaboration with Just
Women's Sports and the Women's Sports Foundation,
Johnnie Walker is working to create
more visibility for women athletes to foster a culture that uplifts
all women.
NEW YORK, July 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Women athletes,
teams and leagues continue to make tremendous strides for progress
and as a partner of Angel City FC and NJ/NY Gotham FC, Johnnie Walker proudly celebrates the
trailblazing spirit and accomplishments these powerhouse teams and
all women athletes have achieved.
Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/9182951-johnnie-walker-summer-of-strides/
Though women make up more than 40% of all athletes, they receive
less than 10% of total sports news coverage*. As a brand that has a
longstanding commitment to gender equality, Johnnie Walker and Emmy Award-winning actress
Hannah Waddingham are on a mission
to help close the visibility gap for women in sports. Together,
they are encouraging fans across the nation to 'Watch Women Sports'
and to recognize the positive impact they can make by simply tuning
into a game.
Record breaking reach and attendance for this summer's global
soccer tournament shows progress is being made, but there is more
work to be done to ensure the teams and athletes on the local level
receive equal visibility and recognition, not just every four
years, but every day like their male counterparts.
Beginning today through August
20th, anyone 21+ can go to
www.justwomenssports.com/watchwomenssports to learn how to receive
'Match Day Memos' from Hannah and view this summer's game day
schedule. These inspirational video reminders will be sent ahead of
this summer's most exciting games to ensure fans never miss a match
and will also highlight how watching and supporting women's sports
can contribute to much needed change for cultural equality.
Johnnie Walker is donating
$100,000 to its nonprofit partner,
the Women's Sports Foundation, to support the critical work
they are doing to expand access and opportunities for women in
sport so they can play, compete and lead without barriers.
"We must do better to ensure women receive the same visibility,
recognition, and accurate portrayals as their male counterparts,"
says actress Hannah Waddingham. "I
am excited to collaborate with Johnnie
Walker, a brand that is steadfast in its support of gender
equality, to help celebrate women athletes and inspire a culture
that values the talents and potential of all women."
With a shared ambition to bring women's sports to the masses and
to tap a community of dedicated women's sports fans to help amplify
the call to action, Johnnie Walker
partnered with Just Women's Sports,
a digital-first media platform committed to unleashing the energy
and hype that defines women's sports.
"Everywhere you look, women's sports are on the rise," said
Just Women's Sports Founder and CEO
Haley Rosen. "Investment, viewership
and participation are all up — but media coverage is still stuck at
a shockingly low percentage. Johnnie
Walker shares our vision of what women's sports can be, and
we're thrilled to be teaming up on this unique and needed
initiative to drive more equitable coverage."
Hannah and Johnnie Walker's
'Match Day Memos' were scripted and produced in partnership with
Hello Sunshine's in-house agency Solar. Hello Sunshine is a media
company which believes in the power of story to broaden
perspectives and change the world for women. Highlighted in each
memo are empowering insights curated by the Women's Sports
Foundation.
"The time to invest in women's sports is now, and everyone, from
brands to fans, has a role to to play, which is why Johnnie Walker is doubling down on our
partnerships to build an even broader fanbase for these bold
athletes," stated Sophie Kelly,
Senior Vice President of Whiskies at DIAGEO North America. "Women
athletes have the power to help shape culture, inspire other women
as positive role models, and break societal narratives so please
join us in celebrating them and tuning in as we cheer them on all
year long."
On July 2, the brand's NWSL
partners NJ/NY Gotham FC and Angel City FC competed against each
other at Red Bull Arena during the Women's Empowerment Game
presented by Johnnie Walker. During
warm-ups, players from both teams wore tops designed by celebrated
illustrator, Monica Ahanonu,
representing a one team approach towards achieving gender equality.
Monica's illustrations depict how "we lift each other up as we rise
and break through barriers" and fans can purchase these limited
edition tops at Angel City FC and NJ/NY Gotham FC online
merchandise shops. The teams will be donating a portion of sales
proceeds to Johnnie Walker's
nonprofit partner, the Women's Sports Foundation.
"Seeing a brand like Johnnie
Walker use its platform to educate and empower people across
the country to watch women's sports is thrilling," said WSF CEO
Danette Leighton. "We at the Women's
Sports Foundation know from our extensive research that it is
imperative to have brands, organizations and corporations invest in
women's sports to reach true equity. As millions tune in to the
Women's World Cup, it is our hope that this campaign inspires
everyone to continue following women athletes in all sports
throughout the year and encourages them to uplift all women in
their communities so they can thrive on and off the field."
The 'Watch Women's Sports' rallying cry is a continuation of
Johnnie Walker's First Strides
initiative, an ongoing commitment to celebrate, inspire and enable
more meaningful firsts in culture. To learn more, visit
www.johnniewalker.com/firststrides.
ABOUT JOHNNIE
WALKER
Johnnie Walker
is the world's number one Scotch Whisky brand1 (IWSR 2021), enjoyed
by people in over 180 countries around the world. Since the time of
its founder, John Walker, those who
blend its whiskies have pursued flavor and quality above all else.
Today's range of award-winning whiskies includes Johnnie Walker Red
Label, Black Label, High Rye Blended Scotch Whisky, Double Black,
Green Label, Gold Label Reserve, Aged 18 Years and Blue Label.
Together they account for over 18 million cases sold annually
(IWSR, 2021), making Johnnie Walker
the most popular Scotch Whisky brand in the world.
ABOUT DIAGEO NORTH
AMERICA
Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol
with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit and
Buchanan's whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas,
Casamigos, DeLeon and Don Julio
tequilas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Tanqueray and Guinness.
Diageo is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: DEO)
and the London Stock Exchange (LSE: DGE) and their products are
sold in more than 180 countries around the world.
For more information about Diageo, their people, brands, and
performance, visit www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo's global
responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information,
initiatives, and ways to share best practice. Follow at Twitter and
Instagram for news and information about Diageo North America:
@Diageo_NA.
ABOUT JUST WOMEN'S
SPORTS
Established in 2020, Just
Women's Sports Inc. is the leading multimedia platform
exclusively dedicated to women's sports. Through online content,
social media, newsletters, podcasts and more, Just Women's Sports brings fans everything they
need to see and know in the world of women's sports. Find
Just Women's Sports online,
subscribe to the newsletter, and follow on Instagram, TikTok,
Twitter and YouTube.
ABOUT THE WOMEN'S SPORTS FOUNDATION
The Women's Sports
Foundation exists to enable girls and women to reach their
potential in sport and life. We are an ally, an advocate and a
catalyst. Founded by Billie Jean
King in 1974, we strengthen and expand participation and
leadership opportunities through research, advocacy, community
programming and a wide variety of collaborative partnerships. From
its inception to Title IX's 50th anniversary in 2022, WSF invested
over $100 million in these impact
efforts, helping to shape the lives of millions of youth, high
school and collegiate student-athletes, elite athletes and coaches.
We're building a future where every girl and woman can #KeepPlaying
and unlock the lifelong benefits of sport participation. All girls.
All women. All sports® To learn more about the Women's
Sports Foundation, please visit www.WomensSportsFoundation.org.
Hannah
Waddingham
Hannah
Waddingham is an Emmy-Award winning television, film, and
theater actress and singer. She is best known for her role as
"Rebecca Welton" in the
award-winning Apple+ series "Ted
Lasso," and has garnered Emmy, Critics Choice, and HCA
Awards, as well as Golden Globe and SAG nominations for this
role. She made her hosting debut at the 2023 Olivier Awards
and continued at the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest. She was recently
seen in Masterpiece & ITV's miniseries "Tom Jones" and earned an HCA TV Award nomination
for her role as 'Lady Bellaston' in the limited series. Next, she
will appear in Fox's animated series "Krapopolis" premiering on
September 24th and her own Christmas
special on AppleTV+, "Hannah
Waddingham: Home for Christmas." In 2024, she will appear in
the new animated adaptation of Garfield, and feature films The Fall
Guy and Mission: Impossible
8. Waddingham is also known for her on-screen roles in Hocus
Pocus 2, "Sex Education," and "Game of Thrones." She is also
known for her contribution to musical theater with three Olivier
Award nominations for her roles in Kiss Me Kate, A Little Night
Music, and Monty Python's Spamalot.
Media contact:
HUNTER
whisky@hunterpr.com
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SOURCE DIAGEO North America