Kim Clijsters and Vincent Kompany team up for children

This week the former Belgian number-one tennis star Kim Clijsters said her final goodbyes to the world of tennis. During a big celebration event the ambassador for SOS Children's Villages Belgium and her sponsor Adecco donated a check of 400,000 Euro to children in need.

During the evening, there was for the first time in Belgium an electronic fundraising going on. Employees of Adecco went into the audience with electronic payment machines and collected more than 335 gifts in less than an hour time.

"SOS Children's Villages Belgium will use this money to open a new reception centre for young children who are experiencing a harsh situation at home", says Managing Director Hilde Boeykens. "The children will temporarily live in this family house, where they will be cared for on an individual basis. At the same time the parents are provided with intensive guidance and counselling.

The goal is to change and stabilise the living situation in the family so that the children can return to a safe home. We are very thankful to Kim Clijsters for this magnificent present."

Even though her tennis career is definitively over, Kim Clijsters will stay active as ambassador for SOS Children's Villages Belgium. "From the first moment I got to know SOS Children's Villages, I knew I want to support them. It’s beautiful to see what they do for children.

I’m really looking forward to open the house together with them", said Kim Clijsters.

In a video message the Manchester City footballer player Vincent Kompany, also an SOS ambassador, expressed his engagement for SOS Children's Villages and his gratitude for Kim Clijsters' career. "We expect each other to fight for a social cause. Kim Clijsters is a great ambassador for the work of SOS Children's Villages and a lot of children will benefit from her contribution. I wish her all the best in the future," he said.