Mission & Vision
The Johan Cruyff Foundation initiates and supports sport projects for children, and cooperates to that end with clubs, sport federations, municipal agencies and governments.
After all: “You may not always think about it, however, when you have the possibility to do something for another, you must take that opportunity” (Johan Cruyff).
The Johan Cruyff Foundation originated from that vision and was established in 1997 by European football player of the century, Johan Cruyff.
With the Cruyff Foundation, Johan Cruyff was one of the first former top sportsmen in the Netherlands to connect his name to a foundation. He wanted to actually make a difference.
After many years of participating in fundraising activities, Johan Cruyff wanted to use his influence to support sports, games and exercise projects for children all over the world. He, and thus the Foundation, pays special attention to children with a disability and less fortunate youngsters, because, especially for them, sports and games are of the utmost importance.
“The idea of creating the Cruyff Foundation began when I was living in the United States. We had a neighbor, a boy with Down syndrome, who was always alone, watching the other kids playing and having fun. One day, I taught him how to head and shoot a ball. Some time passed, and once, when I came home from an away game I found him playing football with the rest of the kids in the neighborhood. I realized that for this boy, who had been marginalized up until now, sport had changed his life completely” (Johan Cruyff).
The Johan Cruyff Foundation grants financial support to sport projects aiming to improve the quality of live for children with a disability, realizes Cruyff Courts in underprivileged areas to offer children everywhere a safe place to play and makes sure educational programs are developed.
Projects for children with a disability
For children with mental, physical or multiple disabilities, being able to practice sport and to exercise is enormously important, but often the facilities and possibilities are difficult to achieve.
The Johan Cruyff Foundation wants to support activities related to sports and games for children with a disability, by seeking collaborations with existing projects and professionals within an extended range of sports.
The Johan Cruyff Foundation has formulated criteria and procedures to which projects should comply before financial support can be granted.
Annually, over 30.000 children with a disability take benefit from the collaborating projects of the Cruyff Foundation.
Cruyff Courts
A Cruyff Court is a modern alternative to the ancient green public playground, which one could find in a lot of neighborhoods and districts, but that over the years has been sacrificed due to urbanization and expansion.
With the Cruyff Courts, these public playgrounds are being brought back to the neighborhood and local children can have a safe and secure place to practice sports.
Through cooperation with the local government, institutions, schools, clubs and local business, a Cruyff Court can have an important social function in any neighborhood.
With almost 200 Cruyff Courts in place, in over 15 countries, the Cruyff Foundation reaches out to thousands of children on a daily basis.
Schoolyard14 (Patio14)
Schoolyard14 is an initiative of the Johan Cruyff Foundation focused on improving schoolyards of primary schools. Many schoolyards in today’s primary schools are inadequate to encourage children to be active. With just a few modifications, we can change an unchallenging schoolyard into a Schoolyard14, a place that motivates children to exercise and to participate in sports, both during school hours and after school. Using special coatings (painted lines and colored areas), we add various sport options and games to existing schoolyards. A goal on a wall, a painted circle on the floor, or an athletic track can make a world of difference.
Already 125 schoolyards 14 have been realized and many more are to follow.
