Since March, Celtic FC Foundation have provided vital support through the Football for Good Fund (FFGF) in the form of food and essentials to thousands of families, individuals, pensioners, the homeless and NHS frontline staff. We recently added a new stream focusing on support around mental health.

Today, we are delighted to announce that, thanks to your incredible generosity in these unprecedented times, we have crossed a mammoth FFGF milestone of £1MILLION, as a magnificent total of £250K has been raised through this current Christmas Appeal phase of the Fund.

 The Christmas Appeal was launched on November 6, 2020, with a very generous £10K donation from the Club. The global pandemic has made life for many families who were already struggling, even more difficult. The pressure of Christmastime has added to that burden. Our aim was to provide some kind of normal for as many families in our communities as we could. Food, gifts and comfort for pensioners, refugees, those living in refuge, the homeless community and most importantly children who would otherwise go without. And we did all of this with your help and with the help of countless charity partners and local schools.

Due to the effects of COVID-19, life has been very different for all of us and financial challenges have been greater than ever before.

Despite the huge impact on our fundraising opportunities and also on all of those who are always behind us, the support we were able to provide through the Christmas Appeal because of your generosity, is more vital than ever this year.

Proceeds raised have now been distributed, to ensure that your efforts will make a genuine difference to those in need, ahead of Christmas Eve.

In summary, beneficiaries include:

• Glasgow/West of Scotland families with children (£65.2K)
• Irish families with children (£10K)
• Gifts to Glasgow children and family hampers (£90K)
• Local OAPs (£8K)
• Children/Family charity partners (£30K)
• Women’s Aid charities (£7.5K)
• Homeless and refugee charity partners (£39.3K)

As well as direct donations, we held a host of key fundraising initiatives as part of the Appeal and while COVID-19 restrictions meant that it wasn’t possible to deliver many of our annual physical events, we offered a number of virtual alternatives. Our fundraising activities included:

• Virtual Toy Drive from December 7
• Stay Up for the Champions – Friday, December 4 – Saturday, December 5
• Virtual Bucket Collection – Sunday, December 6
• Online Shirt Auction – Tuesday, December 8 – Sunday, December 13
• Boogie for Good – Friday, December 11
• Celtic FC Foundation Letter from Santa
• Our New Foundation T-shirt
• Gerard Burns’ Glittering Prize Poster Prints

In a period where there is so much fear and uncertainty, the assistance we have received for the Appeal from across the globe has been absolutely outstanding.

Your support has allowed us to assist a total of 376 families in Glasgow, North and South Lanarkshire, Belfast/Lisburn and Dublin, who are facing poverty and hardship, helping them to enjoy the kind of Christmas that most of us take for granted.

200 vulnerable pensioners across Glasgow were also supported, receiving a fantastic Christmas hamper directly – thanks to a Festive Friends award through the SPFL Trust – and also via a donation to our partner, Glasgow’s Golden Generation.

In addition, we provided donations to 28 grassroots organisations which support children and families, refugees, the homeless and those living in refuge primarily in Glasgow and the West, but also in Oban, Belfast, London, Newcastle and Ottawa.

Ordinarily through the Christmas Appeal, we also provide a number of festive parties for local children at Celtic Park. As we were unable to deliver physical events due to COVID-19 restrictions this year, we adapted our plans and worked directly with the Head Teachers at 13 schools located in disadvantaged communities in Glasgow. At a cost of approximately £90K, we provided Christmas gifts for all 2,272 children. Thanks to a very generous in-kind donation, valued at around £25K, we also supplied 976 hampers, one for each family.

As well as financial donations, we also received and passed on over 400 brand new toys and gifts to a number of beneficiary organisations who distributed them ahead of Christmas.

A more detailed overview of the Christmas Appeal phase of the FFGF can be found HERE

Celtic Chief Executive, Peter Lawwell, said: “Celtic has been at the forefront of UK football, delivering valuable support to thousands of people since the current challenges began and the latest figures show the phenomenal impact of our work.

 “Celtic’s social dimension and community focus will forever be a hugely important part of the Club. It is part of who we are and the magnificent success of our Football for Good Fund really does prove the positive impact which Celtic continues to make on the lives of so many. This is a wonderful achievement.

“The work carried out this year has been remarkable and we sincerely thank our fans for their magnificent support of this initiative.

‘Through a huge collective effort between our colleagues, staff, players, supporters and sponsors we have helped thousands of people in need already – and we will continue to do so as we aim to make a real and meaningful difference.’

“On a day-to-day basis, our work is providing huge benefits and a real level of support to people in need. The needs of the most vulnerable in our communities are greater than ever before, but Celtic will always be there to provide as much support as we possibly can.”

Tony Hamilton, Celtic FC Foundation Chief Executive, added: “Kindness is synonymous with the Celtic support across the world. We will never take it for granted. A sincere thanks to each and every person who made a donation to Football For Good Fund, including the Christmas Appeal.

“My thanks also to all of our partners, the Club’s partners, and the people behind the scenes at Celtic and the Foundation who have made a difference this year to what we’re trying to do.

“Sadly, I suspect the Football for Good Fund will be with us for a few months yet, and with your backing we will continue to help our communities as best we can. In the meantime, have a very happy and safe Christmas.”

The Celtic Family never ceases to amaze and inspire. We are a Club like no other, and together, we have continued to bring comfort to those who need it most.

Thank you once again for your magnificent support.