NU Online News Service, Nov. 6, 3:11 p.m.EDT

Despite living in this era of globalization it is still toughfor a global corporation to have a recognizable identity throughoutthe world among its employees, clients and the communities theylive in.

Toward that end, Aon Corp. is telling its story through a uniqueprogram it dubbed “Pass It On.”

Aon calls it “a global employee and client-engagement programthat tells the Aon story to colleagues, clients and communitiesaround the world by passing Manchester United footballs across sixcontinents in eight months.”

David Prosperi, vice president, global public relations for Aon,says the program involves the company and the Manchester, England,soccer team Manchester United. Aon has been a sponsor of the teamsince 2009.

To kick-off its sponsorship and the company’s global employmentprogram in June of 2009, Aon’s President and Chief Executive OfficeGreg Case, and Stephen McGill, chairman and CEO of Aon RiskSolutions, held a company-wide town hall celebrating thesponsorship, signing three Manchester United balls and kicking theminto the audience.

One of those balls today sits in the Old Trafford Museum, partof Old Trafford stadium where Manchester United plays itsmatches.

This past October, with the help of Manchester United, Aonlaunched its “Pass It On” program. That kick-off took place duringhalf-time of the match between Manchester United and ManchesterCity. With the kick-off, Manchester United balls were shipped tooffices around the world with kick-off points in Hobart, Australia;Cape Town, South Africa, and Punta Arenas, Chile.

There are three transcontinental routes— Americas; Europe,Middle East and Africa; and Asia and Pacific—the balls will have tofollow over an eight month period, visiting offices with theirend-point in London next June, during Aon’s 25^thanniversary.

Prosperi says participants can use any means at their disposal,car, plane, rail or post, primarily done by Aon employees.

Besides moving the ball, each team can gain points through anonline competition answering the “Know Aon” question of the day andposting videos or photos highlighting the Aon logo through thefirm’s intranet sight.

Points are also accumulated for creating leadership profiles ofclients, colleagues and community leaders in areas where the balltravels, and for work the teams do to support moving the ball alongthe route, says Prosperi. While it helps to finish first withdelivery of the ball, the winner will be based on total points. Thescores are tracked daily on Aon’s intranet, and can be viewed overthe Internet.

Currently, team Europe, Middle East and Africa is in the lead,closely followed by team Americas. Team Asia, Pacific is far behindin points.

The competition alone is not the sole purpose, says Prosperi. Itis also an effort for associates to highlight Aon’s involvement inlocal civic activities, some of which are exhibited in the photos.

“We are now telling the world of the value Aon brings to helpingclients with human and economic possibilities,” says Prosperi. “Allaround, we are engaging our clients and the community with the aimto deliver the message about the work we do.”

The competition culminates in June at Lloyd’s of London, saysProsperi, where there will be a fundraising dinner recognizingAon’s 25^th anniversary. Representatives for the winningteam will receive rewards. A charity for the dinner has not yetbeen designated.

Prosperi adds the reward for the winner could potentiallyinclude a visit to Old Trafford for a Manchester United match.