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

Despite living in this era of globalization it is still tough for a global corporation to have a recognizable identity throughout the world among its employees, clients and the communities they live in.

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

Aon calls it “a global employee and client-engagement program that tells the Aon story to colleagues, clients and communities around the world by passing Manchester United footballs across six continents 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 team since 2009.

To kick-off its sponsorship and the company’s global employment program in June of 2009, Aon’s President and Chief Executive Office Greg Case, and Stephen McGill, chairman and CEO of Aon Risk Solutions, held a company-wide town hall celebrating the sponsorship, signing three Manchester United balls and kicking them into the audience.

One of those balls today sits in the Old Trafford Museum, part of Old Trafford stadium where Manchester United plays its matches.

This past October, with the help of Manchester United, Aon launched its “Pass It On” program. That kick-off took place during half-time of the match between Manchester United and Manchester City. With the kick-off, Manchester United balls were shipped to offices 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 to follow over an eight month period, visiting offices with their end-point in London next June, during Aon’s 25^th anniversary.

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 an online competition answering the “Know Aon” question of the day and posting videos or photos highlighting the Aon logo through the firm’s intranet sight.

Points are also accumulated for creating leadership profiles of clients, colleagues and community leaders in areas where the ball travels, and for work the teams do to support moving the ball along the route, says Prosperi. While it helps to finish first with delivery of the ball, the winner will be based on total points. The scores are tracked daily on Aon’s intranet, and can be viewed over the Internet.

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

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

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

The competition culminates in June at Lloyd’s of London, says Prosperi, where there will be a fundraising dinner recognizing Aon’s 25^th anniversary. Representatives for the winning team will receive rewards. A charity for the dinner has not yet been designated.

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

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