Hamilton launches 'Mission 44' charity with personal £20m donation
Hamilton launches 'Mission 44' charity with personal £20m donation
Seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton has launched a new charitable foundation with a personal pledge of £20million.
'Mission 44' has been created to support, champion and empower young people from under-represented groups in the UK.
Hamilton's significant financial contribution will be used to support organisations and programmes that narrow the gap in employment and education systems, through partnerships, collaborations, grant-giving and advocacy.
“Supporting the ambitions of under-represented young people has always been important to me and Mission 44 represents my commitment to create real change within this community," said Hamilton.
"In my early life, I experienced first-hand how coming from an under-represented background can affect your future, but, luckily for me, I was able to overcome those odds through opportunity and support.
"I want to ensure that other young people from similar backgrounds are able to do the same."
The new charity will work in tandem with Mercedes' new Ignite programme to ensure the team becomes more diverse and inclusive.
It also follows on from the recent findings of the Hamilton Commission that brought to light the fact that only one per cent of employees in F1 are from Black backgrounds and highlighted 10 key areas where the sport can improve to increase this figure.
Hamilton added: “I am so grateful that Mercedes are joining me on our initiative Ignite, with the goal to improve representation within the motorsport industry.
"The findings of The Hamilton Commission and its recommendations have provided us with a fantastic basis to begin our work. Change within the industry is long overdue, but we are now firmly on the journey towards transforming it for the better.”
In addition to Hamilton's pledge, there will be contributions from his brand partners and sponsors to further boost funds and support the foundation's activity.
Mission 44 will focus on three key areas:
* Representation: Shining a spotlight on the experiences of young people from under-represented groups, supporting their access to, and progress in, spaces, professions and sectors that historically have poor levels of diversity.
* Progression: Through programmes, advocacy and research, Mission 44 will support the development of better pathways for under-represented young people across all aspects of society to achieve and thrive, with a focus on those most at risk of being left behind.
* Empowerment: Working with young people and a wide range of organisations to support initiatives that amplify the voices of young people from under-represented groups to influence decision-making and support them to take action on social causes they are passionate about.
In supporting Hamilton, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said: “We are delighted and proud to be standing alongside Lewis for the announcement of Mission 44 and the Ignite initiative.
"Lewis has long spoken about the challenges he has faced in motorsport. His determination to turn his experience into such powerful and decisive action is a measure of both his character and his unwavering commitment to support people to fulfil their potential.
"At Mercedes, we have listened and worked closely with Lewis over the last year to understand how we can help open up our sport to achieve a more diverse and inclusive workforce within our own team.
"The opportunity to work together through Ignite, with Mission 44 and our own Accelerate 25 programme, is both exciting and challenging.
"We are looking forward to getting started and hope our actions will enable many more people to experience the thrills of motorsport in the future.”
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
F1 Race Week: When and where is the next grand prix?
- 15 minutes ago
Wolff issues POSITIVE Hamilton update with upgrades due
- 1 hour ago
F1 News: Marko hints at future Newey rivalry
- 2 hours ago
F1 News Today: Cullen gives 'RED' racing update as Newey deals serious Ferrari blow
- Today 06:57
Newey 'given new team starting date' as HUGE name linked with F1 return - GPFans F1 Recap
- Today 00:27
Angela Cullen makes 'rolling in red' post after Hamilton Ferrari move
- Yesterday 22:57
F1 Race Calendar 2024
-
GP BAHRAIN
29 Feb - 2 Mar
Max Verstappen
-
GP SAUDI ARABIA
7 - 9 Mar
Max Verstappen
-
GP AUSTRALIA
22 - 24 Mar
Carlos Sainz
-
GP JAPAN
5 - 7 Apr
Max Verstappen
-
GP CHINA
19 - 21 Apr
Max Verstappen
-
GP USA
3 - 5 May
Lando Norris
- GP ITALY 17 - 19 May
- GP MONACO 24 - 26 May
- GP CANADA 7 - 9 Jun
- GP SPAIN 21 - 23 Jun
- GP AUSTRIA 28 - 30 Jun
- GP GREAT BRITAIN 5 - 7 Jul
Related news
Angela Cullen makes 'rolling in red' post after Hamilton Ferrari move
Historic Lewis Hamilton race car makes EPIC return
Hamilton F1 movie budget SOARS past incredible $300 million mark
International superstar scolds Hamilton after Miami GP
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- AWS Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860