Following an enforced year on the sidelines, Celtic FC Foundation’s Ghirls for Good event made a welcome return to the Kerrydale Suite on Friday night. As always, this was a key initiative within the Christmas Appeal phase of our Football for Good Fund and it raised a magnificent total in the region of £20K.
The event was sponsored by the amazing Ellen Kane Trust for the fourth time and guests on the night were welcomed to Paradise by Celtic Santa, with a complimentary drink on arrival.
And it wouldn’t have been the same without our host, the inimitable Edward Reid, who brought the sparkle, returning for the fifth time.
On the day the funeral took place of one of our own, we opened proceedings with a tribute, as we shared Celtic’s 2021 Christmas advert. The wonderful, the unforgettable, the irreplaceable, the immortal, Bertie Auld.
Our host with the most then sang ‘Just Can’t Get Enough’ before we kicked off a superb three-course meal and this was complemented by Mark Gordon’s special brand of magic.
A video piece featuring Celtic manager, Ange Postecoglou provided an overview of this year’s Christmas Appeal, which also celebrates the constant and never failing commitment, compassion and generosity of our supporters. As the legendary Tommy Burns once said, ‘They’re there and they’re always there, and God bless every one of them.’
And on that note, we were joined on the evening by three very special guests – Georgia Postecoglou and Rosemary and Jenna Burns. We are so grateful to these wonderful women for their incredible spirit and support of the Foundation.
The Appeal VT was followed by a vote of thanks from Celtic FC Foundation’s Head of Income, Jane Maguire, and the Kerrydale was brimming with emotion when Anne Kelly of Glasgow East Women’s Aid shared poignant and personal stories about the genuine and real impact of Christmas Appeal support in previous years.
Between courses, Edward Reid shared beautiful performances of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ and ‘Grace’ and then upped the tempo with a Celtic-friendly rendition of ‘Last Christmas’, as the ladies packed the dance floor and gave their hearts to Ange Postecoglou.
Following dinner, guests were treated to some special messages from Lennoxtown featuring Callum McGregor, Anthony Ralston, Mikey Johnston and David Turnbull, with a ‘Careless Whisper’ from Jota.
Next up was Edward Reid’s stunning live set. He kicked it off with a hysterical limbo competition – safe to say the Kerrydale Suite has never seen anything quite like it. The lucky winner received a wonderful Bellini giftbox.
Thanks to an incredible donation from event sponsor, the Ellen Kane Trust, the Fly High New York Draw was back on the Ghirls for Good programme and proved to be even more popular than ever! For just a £10 entry fee, guests had the opportunity to win a quite outstanding prize – a stunning package for two people to New York City including return flights from Glasgow and three nights’ accommodation in a double or twin room in a hotel close to Times Square.
The draw was made by Angela Quinn of the Ellen Kane Trust and one very lucky Ghirl went home with a Christmas gift like no other!
The evening also included festive DJ Stephen, Christmas stalls, a beautiful selection of chocolate covered strawberries on each table – courtesy of Strawberry and Dipped – and a Free Prize Draw featuring a plethora of outstanding prizes.
We also asked each gorgeous Ghirl to bring along a gift for a local child and were overwhelmed and humbled by the response. These will now be distributed to those who are sick or disadvantaged before the sleigh bells ring on Christmas Eve.
The beneficiary organisations include Bargeddie Toddlers, Children in Care in Edinburgh and Fife, Community and Beyond Toy Bank, Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, Glasgow East Women’s Aid, Glasgow North East Social Work, Glasgow Women’s Aid, Kids Out, Loaves & Fishes, Salvation Army Parkhead, Scottish Refugee Council, Simon Community Scotland and Spirit Aid.
Celtic FC Foundation Chief Executive, Tony Hamilton, said: “This is always one of the Foundation’s favourite nights of the year. Time after time, Ghirls for Good makes a phenomenal contribution to the Christmas Appeal and we owe a huge debt of gratitude to every one of our fantastic guests.
“I would also like to personally thank our sponsor and Fly High NY donor – the Ellen Kane Trust – who continually go above and beyond for the Foundation and we are very grateful.
“Thanks also to Edward Reid, Ange Postecoglou, Georgia Postecoglou, Rosemary and Jenna Burns, Mark Gordon, DJ Stephen, Strawberry and Dipped, Celtic Santa, all prize donors, our print donor Bell & Bain and our volunteers Jackie and Helen for the part they played in its success.
“Together, you have all made a massive difference to the lives of so many disadvantaged and vulnerable families and individuals this Christmas.”
The monies raised at Ghirls for Good will support the Christmas Appeal phase of our Football for Good Fund.
Through the Appeal we want to give hundreds of families in our communities the Christmas they deserve, making sure there’s food on the table and gifts under the tree.
We also wish to help pensioners, women and children in refuge, the homeless community and refugees – as well as a whole host of others facing poverty and hardship.
Charity, and the generosity and compassion of the Celtic Family, will always be our past, present and future – it’s our heritage, our responsibility, our lifeblood.
Thank you so much for joining Celtic FC Foundation in making a difference this Christmas – it’s our reason for being.
There’s still time to get behind the Christmas Appeal 2021:
- Donate by text – text ‘CELTIC’ followed by ‘£1’, ‘£5’ or ‘£10’ to 70085*
- Donate online HERE
- Donate via PayPal HERE
- Donate via Facebook HERE
- Donate in Cash – there are collection boxes located in all Celtic Stores
- Donate by Cheque – payable to ‘Celtic FC Foundation’ and sent to Celtic FC Foundation, Celtic Park, Glasgow G40 3RE.
- Provide support through your Christmas shopping via Give as you Live and AmazonSmile HERE
- Make a donation to receive your ‘Celtic FC Foundation Letter from Santa’ HERE
- Purchase our brand new Foundation T-shirt HERE
- Sign up for the Celtic Sleep Out, London on Friday, December 3 HERE
- Support our Light Up the Clover initiative on Thursday, December 9 or matchday bucket collection on Sunday, December 12 – to register as a volunteer collector, call 0141 551 4486 or email [email protected]
- Enter our new Christmas Appeal Prize Draw – further details to follow.
Thank you for your magnificent support.
*Texts will cost the donation amount, plus one standard rate message.
