In October 2016, Flamengo will reopen the Anjo da Guarda Rubro-Negro project - the largest donation program supporting sports in the country - for the fourth consecutive year, continuing the important mission of promoting Olympic sports for the Most Beloved and, consequently, for Brazil.

 

Donations received through the project, made through a deduction of up to 6% of the amount owed to the Federal Revenue Service, benefit approximately 700 athletes, all youth athletes, from eight Olympic sports at Clube da Gávea. In addition to fostering the development of young Flamengo fans and fostering new national sports idols, the Guardian Angel project will also contribute directly this year to one of Flamengo's main and most successful teams: FlaBasquete.

 

Young athletes Felipe Silva, known as Felipin, Bernardo Campos, Vitor Amorim, Danilo Monteiro, Emilio Otte, Heitor Cesar, and João Victor França, who are members of Mais Querido's under-22 basketball team and benefit from funds raised through Anjo da Guarda, will reinforce José Neto's squad in the 2016/2017 season of Novo Basquete Brasil. Neto, whose adult team includes stars Marcelinho, Ricardo Fischer, Ronald Ramon, Marquinhos, Rafael Mineiro, JP Batista, and Olivinha, will have the seven youngsters at his disposal in his quest for a sixth championship. The boys, who are coached in the under-22 category by Neto's assistant coach, Rodrigo Carlos, are already showing their potential on the court in this year's adult State Championship. 

 

Alexandre Póvoa, Vice President of Olympic Sports at Mais Querido, commented on the importance of investing in youth teams and how this reflects on the adult teams:

 

""Flamengo makes great players at home" has always been our motto, and the fact that this year our basketball team had more youth players than usual shows how important the participation of those who invest in Anjo da Guarda is. People think they're only investing in the youth team, but the youth team is fundamental to Flamengo's adult basketball team, as well as to the adult teams of other Olympic sports at the club. We are very proud to know that Flamengo fans are investing in our motto, so that it can last a lifetime," said the Vice President.

 

The Anjo da Guarda Rubro-Negro (Red-Black Guardian Angel) is a fundraising project that has already raised approximately R$3,2 million. All of these funds are used to pay athletes, coaches, technical staff, and other staff members, competition registration fees, transportation and accommodation during championships, and equipment.