CELTIC FC Foundation are delighted to confirm that a magnificent net total of £200,000 was raised through our Maestrio Charity Weekend �€“ featuring Paul McStay and Rio Ferdinand – in September.

The events, which were sponsored by Flip and Magners, kicked off with the sell-out Maestrio Charity Dinner at the Thistle Hotel on Saturday, September 6 and culminated in the star-studded Maestrio Charity Match �€“ McStay�€™s Maestros v Rio�€™s All Stars – the following day at Celtic Park.

Net proceeds of the weekend have been split equally between Celtic FC Foundation and the Rio Ferdinand Foundation.

Celtic FC Foundation selected UNICEF, the world�€™s leading children�€™s organisation, and War Child �€“ two respected charities which take no side in conflict – as main beneficiaries, to help support their humanitarian work across the Middle East.

Both charities have now been presented with donations of £25,000.

Celtic Chief Executive Peter Lawwell said: “A huge amount of work and energy delivered this great occasion ;and we are absolutely delighted at the results.  ;

�€œThrough this event, between the club, supporters, sponsors and ;friends of Celtic working together, we created something which ultimately will once again will make a hugely significant and positive difference to the lives of so many families and young people at home and abroad.

�€œWe are all rightly proud of the club’s ;inherent social dimension ;and in the last 20 years, through our Charity Fund and now the Foundation, we are pleased that ;our work in this area ;has been enhanced and revitalised, to ensure ;that so many people in need receive the much needed support they deserve.

�€œI thank everyone who was involved in organising and supporting this event and of course everyone who continues to support the work of Celtic FC Foundation.�€

Tony Hamilton, CEO of Celtic FC Foundation, said: �€œI am delighted that we raised such an incredible sum of money. Both of our charities are very grateful to receive this cash, as is the Rio Ferdinand Foundation, and we will use the remaining money to make a difference to people�€™s lives locally.

�€œThanks to all who took part in the events, to our sponsors and to those who paid to attend the dinner or the match. The club staff and Executive who helped us deliver these events deserve enormous credit too.

�€œThis is who we are and the success of big events like this is down to a willingness to improve people�€™s lives �€“ it�€™s our major motivating factor.�€

Rob Williams, CEO of War Child UK, added: �€œWe are absolutely delighted to benefit from the Maestrio Charity Weekend and would like to say a huge thank you to Celtic FC Foundation for all their support.

�€œThis is a significant donation for War Child and will make a huge difference to the lives of children who are currently caught up in conflict.

�€œRight now, War Child are working in some of the worst conflict zones in the world to keep children safe and help them build a life free from poverty.

�€œThis donation will help War Child reach more children in places like Iraq and Jordan where we are supporting Syrian refugee children. Thank you so much for your vital support.�€

Jane Cooper, UNICEF UK Director of Communications, said: �€œUnicef works to save and protect the rights of all children. ;Many hundreds of thousands of children throughout the Middle East are living without access to basic life-saving essentials, such as food, clean water and shelter.

�€œWe would like to thank Celtic for supporting our work in the region to help improve these children�€™s lives.�€

The remaining £50,000 will support Celtic FC Foundation projects in and around Glasgow, which aim to tackle poverty.

Our partner in the Maestrio Charity Weekend, The Rio Ferdinand Foundation, will devote the funds to their work with local community partners in both London and across townships in South Africa which support and assist children, young people and families suffering the effects of poverty, violence and abuse on a day-to-day basis.

Rio Ferdinand said: �€œI would like to thank everyone involved in delivering the Maestrio event, the players and celebrities, the staff at Celtic FC and at Rio Ferdinand Foundation, and especially all those people who came out to support both the dinner and game.

�€œTo have raised such a great sum of money to help support young people and families in difficult circumstances in England, Scotland and the Middle East is a fantastic effort in the current economic climate.�€

Thank you to the Celtic Family for, once again, providing outstanding support to our charitable efforts to help those less fortunate. Your magnificent input epitomises the core essence of our club�€™s humble beginnings.