It’s been yet another immensely successful year for Celtic Football Club and its charitable arm, Celtic FC Foundation.
The achievements of those on the pitch have led to success off it – and with 2023 just around the corner, we thought it appropriate to reflect on the past 12 months and detail the Foundation’s top five highlights of 2022:
CHRISTMAS APPEAL
We announced this past week that the 2022 Christmas Appeal had been the most successful to date, raising a mammoth £385,000 for those in need.
The record-breaking total comes even though many supporters are experiencing their own financial challenges amidst the current cost of living crisis. It has been truly humbling to see the Celtic family selflessly step up, as they always do, to help others.
Thanks to the support provided financially and through in-kind donations, we have been in a position this year to help so many of the people who need it most, at this exceptionally difficult time of year.
FUEL CRISIS PROJECT
Working in partnership with the Fuel Bank Foundation, a £400,000 contribution was made in October to aid those in fuel crisis across Scotland.
This fully funded initiative is in the process of assigning fuel vouchers worth £49 to around 6,200 households, helping approximately 17,000 individuals. In addition to this, 500 individuals have received a winter warmer self-care pack to the value of £100.
Consisting of items which will help individuals cut energy usage through the colder months, these packs have been distributed to existing Foundation programme participants living in poverty or relying on the state pension. They have also been allocated to the broader community, prioritising vulnerable, elderly people.
As we move into the new year, this investment should alleviate the pressure for thousands of households across Glasgow and the surrounding area. People on a pre-payment fuel meter at home can apply here.
GALA DINNERS
Following a long two-year wait, physical gala dinner events returned in 2022 in Glasgow, London and New York.
Proceedings kicked off at Celtic Park in March with our sold-out Annual Sporting Dinner – sponsored by David McDonald Financial Services – where we were joined by special guest speakers including Roy Aitken, Tosh McKinlay, Charlie Mulgrew, Ange Postecoglou, Callum McGregor, Anthony Ralston and Jota. The evening raised a net total in excess of £100K.
We returned to the Big Apple a few weeks later, as Celtic FC Foundation played host to over 280 guests – including Sir Kenny Dalglish and Sir Rod Stewart – at our New York Gala Dinner in Manhattan. We raised an astonishing net total of $450K in what was our most successful US event to date.
In May, we rounded things off in style as the Foundation headed down south, hosting a London Gala Dinner – sponsored by Eland Cables – in the Four Seasons Hotel at Ten Trinity Square, with guest speakers including Ange Postecoglou and Martin O’Neill and drawing tremendous support from legends, supporters, and sponsors alike. The net total raised was a magnificent £360K.
EXPANDED PROJECT DELIVERY
Extending the scale of our project outreach is crucial for Celtic FC Foundation as we aim to help the most vulnerable people in our society. To this end, the Foundation introduced several new projects in 2022, including the Paradise Recovery Café, Holiday Home Project and our Ukrainian Support Project in partnership with the ECA.
We also extended the spread of our project outreach via our Community and Holiday Games programmes, with new strands introduced in Ireland and New York respectively.
PARTNER ORGANISATIONS
In 2022, Celtic FC Foundation was fortunate to be able to call upon several key partner organisations whose main purpose is to provide grants to the Third Sector such as The Scottish Government (through our CashBack Gateway to Employment project), The National Lottery Community Fund, Community Jobs Scotland and Islamic Relief.
We also maintained existing relationships with club sponsors and organisations including Balhousie Care Group (sponsors of our Lions’ View Sensory Room), Intelligent Car Leasing, Dafabet, Cadbury and Ocean Outdoor amongst others.
Each of these generous organisations has played a significant part in helping us deliver vital projects and services across our communities.
HONOURABLE MENTION: CELTIC SUPPORTERS
Throughout the year, we could count on the unwavering commitment of Celtic supporters worldwide.
This highlights list wouldn’t be possible without the immense generosity of the Celtic family, and it is something that we will never take for granted.
Thank you – and onwards to 2023.
