CELTIC FC Foundation is delighted to announce that an incredible net total of £240,000 has been raised through our 2018 Christmas Appeal, making it our most successful to date.
This has been a massive team effort and is due to the collective and magnificent generosity of so many people including worldwide supporters, the Club, the manager, players, directors, trustees, partners, sponsors and funders.
To ensure your efforts make a genuine difference before the sleigh bells ring on Christmas Eve, all monies collected have already been distributed to those who need it most. In summary:
– Glasgow/West of Scotland/Dublin/Belfast and Lisburn families with children (£94k)
– Local OAPs (£5k)
– Children (£62k)
– Women’s Aid charities (£11k)
– Homeless, refugees, other vulnerable groups (£68k)
As well as direct donations, we held eight key fundraising initiatives this year:
– Founding Fathers’ Fast on Monday, November 6 (£0.6k)
– Celtic Sleep Out, Glasgow on Saturday, November 17 (£30k)
– Celtic Sleep Out, London on Friday, November 23 (£11k)
– The Ghirls for Good ladies event on Saturday, December 1 (£20k)
– Our annual bucket collection on Saturday, December 8 (£12.5k)
– eBay Auction from December 6-11 (£13k)
– Light up the Clover on Thursday, December 13 (£5k)
– Celtic FC Foundation Letter from Santa (£2k)
As always, the support has been second to none across the board and has allowed us to assist a total of 466 families who are seriously struggling this festive period. Santa will pay a visit to those homes on Christmas Eve and Make Dreams Come True. Thanks to all of you who supported the Appeal, the beautiful magic of Christmas is well and truly alive.
We also helped 50 local pensioners through the provision of supermarket vouchers.
In addition, donations have been made to 20 organisations which support children, the homeless, those living in refuge, refugees and those facing other challenges primarily in Glasgow and the West but also in Belfast, Dublin, London and Ottawa.
We hosted three Christmas parties at Celtic Park for 788 local children, including gifts, with the latter two funded by private donors.
As well as financial donations, we also received and passed on over 650 brand new toys and gifts.
A more detailed overview of the 2018 Christmas Appeal can be found HERE
Celtic Chief Executive Peter Lawwell said: “Once again, I would like to thank everyone who has made this year’s Christmas Appeal such an overwhelming success. A commitment to a strong social and charitable dimension has defined Celtic ever since its formation and we are delighted today to continue to honour these origins by doing more than ever in offering assistance and support to those in need.
“It is very important at this time of year in particular to remember and care for those who are in need of some help, and we are delighted that through this appeal we are able to offer support some very deserving people.”
Tony Hamilton, Celtic FC Foundation Chief Executive, said: “I sincerely hope that everyone who contributed money, time or goods to this year’s appeal are enormously proud of their efforts.
“This generosity of spirit has changed the game completely for thousands of people in some of our poorest communities and it would not have been possible without commitment and support. Thank you for making dreams come true this Christmas and thank you for delivering the gift of hope to so many people. Have a very happy and peaceful Christmas.”
