Kia Motors makes pledge to Make-A-Wish® International in conjunction with UEFA EURO 2012™sponsorship

• Automaker donates US$100,000 to non-profit organization that grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions
• Six children will serve as official match ball carriers at UEFA EURO 2012™

SEOUL, June 27, 2012 /CNW/ - In celebration of its official sponsorship of the UEFA EURO 2012™ football championship, Kia Motors has donated US$100,000 to its selected charity, Make-A-Wish^® International. In addition to the donation, Kia Motors has also invited six 'wish' children to serve as official match ball carriers during the matches in Poland and Ukraine where they will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to deliver the official match ball onto the pitch during Europe's largest football competition.

The six wish children, who were selected from Make-A-Wish International's European affiliates based on their love of football, will travel to Poland and Ukraine from across Europe to help 'share the power of a wish^®' with all of those in attendance at UEFA EURO 2012™. Wish children Victor (age 13, Denmark), Efstratios (age 12, Greece), Alan (age 12, Italy), Juro (age 14, Austria), Peter (age 14, France), and Mathias (age 12, Denmark) will making appearances beginning with the tournament's group stage matches that started on 12 June through the first semi-final match on 27 June.

"Make-A-Wish International is thrilled to be Kia's selected charity and know that our wish children are very excited to take part in UEFA EURO 2012," said Jon Stettner, president and chief executive officer of Make-A-Wish International. "A wish come true helps children feel stronger, more energetic and more willing and able to battle their life-threatening medical conditions. All the children attending are an example of the strength given through a granted wish. This opportunity offers a wonderful way for our wish children and Kia to take part in celebrating our mission and love for football together!"

Soon-Nam Lee, Director of the Overseas Marketing Group, Kia Motors Corp., said, "This year, we are the only UEFA EURO 2012 sponsor given the opportunity to nominate official match ball carriers for the matches in Poland and Ukraine. We can't think of a more fitting charity to partner with for this opportunity than Make-A-Wish International. We are happy to provide the opportunity for wish children to serve as official match ball carriers and are excited to embrace this amazing experience right along with them."

"We are also proud help make more wishes come true through our US$100,000 donation to Make-A-Wish International," Mr. Lee concluded.

Make-A-Wish International grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. The organization is the world's largest wish-granting organization, serving children in 47 countries outside the US through its 36 affiliates. With the help of generous donors and more than 30,000 volunteers worldwide, Make-A-Wish has granted more than 290,000 wishes around the globe since its inception in 1980. For more information on Make-A-Wish International, please visit www.worldwish.org.

For more information on Kia's sponsorship of UEFA EURO 2012, please visit www.kiamotors.com/experience-kia/sponsorship.

Kia Canada Inc. (www.kia.ca - www.facebook.com/kiacanada) -- a maker of quality vehicles for the young-at-heart -- is a subsidiary of Kia Motors Corporation (KMC) in Korea was founded in 1999 and sells and services high quality class leading vehicles like the Soul, Forte, Optima and Sorento through a network of 173 dealers nationwide. Kia Canada Inc. employs 162 people in its Mississauga, Ontario headquarters and four regional offices across Canada. Kia's brand slogan -- "The Power to Surprise" -- represents the company's global commitment to surpassing customer expectations through continuous automotive innovation.

Kia Canada Inc. Media Contacts:

Cathy Laroche
Public Relations Manager
(C): 514.554.0843
e-mail: [email protected] 

Daniel Ponzini
Public Relations and Events Coordinator
(O): 905.755.6415
(C): 647.462.8986
e-mail: [email protected]