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August 24, 2026

Chilean Professional Soccer, TNT Sports, and Corporación MATER Join Forces to Support Children’s Kidney Health

During Matchday 20 of the Mercado Libre First Division, all club captains will wear a special armband featuring their club’s crest and the slogan “Healthy Kidney, Happy Child,” as part of the first initiative under this partnership.

This morning, the National Professional Soccer Association (ANFP) and TNT Sports announced their partnership with the MATER Corporation, which aims to raise awareness about the importance of kidney health and the need to reduce wait times for the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric nephrological and urological diseases in Chile.

ANFP President Pablo Milad stated, “For soccer, it is always a priority to support important causes in Chile. That is what we are doing today with the MATER Foundation by joining the effort to raise awareness about the prevention and treatment of kidney and nephro-urological diseases. Not only will the captains of Universidad de Chile and Colo-Colo wear the ‘Healthy Kidney, Happy Child’ armband, but so will all the captains of the First Division teams playing this weekend.”

As part of this partnership, a series of activities will take place, beginning with the matches on Matchday 20 of the Mercado Libre First Division, during which the captains will wear a special armband featuring their team’s crest and the slogan “Healthy Kidney, Happy Child,” sharing this message with thousands of fans in the stadiums and through the TNT Sports broadcast.

Dr. José Manuel Escala, founder of the MATER Corporation, expressed his gratitude for the ANFP’s support and the clubs’ commitment to children’s health, noting that “We are celebrating 30 years of working tirelessly to provide timely, high-quality care to thousands of children throughout Chile, but there is always more we can do, especially through education and raising awareness; therefore, this partnership opens up many opportunities to reach more communities and children in need.”

In addition to the promotional events scheduled to take place during the Mercado Libre First Division season, both organizations will carry out other joint campaigns to share educational and informational content on pediatric nephro-urological health, primarily through social media and the official digital platforms of the ANFP and Chilean professional soccer.

With this initiative, Chilean professional soccer reaffirms its commitment to causes that go beyond the field, putting its massive reach to work for the health and well-being of the country’s children.

More articles

The partnership will enable the development of various initiatives in urological and nephrological health, with a special focus on children.
Dr. Francisca Yankovic is a pediatric surgeon and urologist who trained at the University of Chile and completed a subspecialty fellowship at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. An associate professor at the University of Chile, director of the Pediatric Urology training program, and past president of the Chilean Society of Pediatric Surgery, she has firsthand knowledge of the challenges faced by children with complex urological conditions. For nearly a decade, she has volunteered with Corporación MATER, an experience that has confirmed to her that improving access to healthcare can change a life.
Dr. Renato Gana has been associated with Corporación Mater since its inception. As a pediatric urologist, he participated in the first surgical campaigns and has been part of an initiative that aims to provide specialized surgery to children living in regions where treating certain conditions can be much more difficult.
More than 50 children were able to undergo surgery thanks to new medical campaigns organized by Corporación MATER in collaboration with local health services and various partner institutions.
The MATER Children's Kidney Foundation brought together those who helped it take its first steps to thank them for three decades of support, solidarity, and work on behalf of children throughout Chile.
Dr. José Manuel Escala is the founder and president of Corporación Mater. As the organization marks its 30th anniversary, we sat down with him to discuss its origins, its major achievements, and the need to carry this work forward—a conversation in which he also acknowledges and thanks those who have played a vital role along the way.