CELTIC FC Foundation’s annual Ghirls for Good event moved to an evening slot this year – due to customer demand – and it took place in the Kerrydale Suite on Saturday, December 3. This was a key event within our 2016 Christmas Appeal and it raised a phenomenal total in excess of £15,000.
Sponsored by Mappin & Webb, the evening proved to be a great success, with around 320 Ghirls lending their support.
Following a warm welcome by Celtic Santa and a cocktail on arrival courtesy of Eden Mill, the Ghirls were introduced to our host for the evening, the inimitable Edward Reid, who kicked off the proceedings in style as he belted out Jess Glynne’s ‘Hold My Hand’.
A video piece featuring Brendan Rodgers and some of the first-team squad provided an overview of this year’s Christmas Appeal and confirmed to the Ghirls just what a difference their support will make.
Hot on the heels of this news, one Ghirl at every table was a winner as online ladies clothing and accessories store, Princess Angel Star, donated festive gifts for our Christmas Cracker Crew draw!
A beautiful three-course meal – donated by Campbell Prime Meats, Premier Produce and Bidvest Scotland – was further enhanced with Mark Gordon’s special brand of magic and a stunning performance of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ by our host. It was a very special moment as our Ghirls created a touching light display with their mobile phones.
Following dinner, guests were treated to a hilarious video piece featuring Christmas messages from first-team players Stuart Armstrong and Ryan Christie. A comedy duo in the making!
Next up was Celtic FC Foundation Chief Executive, Tony Hamilton, with a vote of thanks for the wonderful support of everyone involved with the event. However, he singled out two very special guests – Sian Thomas and Iain McGovern – who completed a monumental task six weeks ago and he presented them with Celtic quaichs, engraved especially for them.
In October of this year and together with friends and family, Sian and Iain walked a mammoth 355 miles – from Merthyr Tydfil in Wales to Paradise – in memory of Sian’s husband Jonathan. They arrived here at Celtic Park on Saturday, October 22 – the first anniversary of Jonathan’s passing. He was only 30 years old.
The Walk for Jonathan raised funds for two charities very close to his heart – Celtic FC Foundation and Crohn’s & Colitis UK. An absolutely astounding sum was raised and a magnificent total in excess of £10,000 is being donated to each of the two charities.
Sian has specifically asked that Celtic FC Foundation’s share be allocated to this year’s Christmas Appeal and we can’t thank her, Iain and the rest of the group enough for making a genuine difference to the lives of others. We have no doubt Jonathan Thomas will be a very proud Bhoy.
The Ghirls were then treated to an outstanding live set from Edward Reid. Blessed with a stunning voice, his special brand of performing ensured the dance floor was packed throughout.
Thanks to an incredible donation from the Ellen Kane Trust, the Fly High NY Draw was a new and very popular addition to the Ghirls for Good programme.
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 premium economy BA flights from Glasgow and three nights’ accommodation in a double or twin room at the Radisson Martinique Hotel Broadway. One lucky Ghirl went home with a Christmas gift like no other!
The evening also included a festive DJ, Christmas stalls and a Free Prize Draw featuring a plethora of outstanding prizes. Assisting Edward to draw the winning tickets was Charlotte Searle – fiancée of Brendan Rodgers – who was lending her support to the event along with Danni Davies, Jane Kennedy and Paula Woods.
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 Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, Glasgow East Women’s Aid, Glasgow North East Social Work, Glasgow Women’s Aid, Kids Out, Loaves & Fishes, Scottish Refugee Council, Simon Community Scotland and Spirit Aid.
Ghirls for Good was a fun and festive heart-warming occasion, celebrating all that is wonderful about the Celtic Family.
Tony Hamilton said: “I was proud to see so many Ghirls lend their support to our Christmas Appeal. It was a bit lively, as you would expect, and everyone played their part in a hugely successful event.
“I would like to thank our sponsor – Mappin & Webb – Brendan Rodgers and the Celtic squad, Edward Reid, Eden Mill, the Ellen Kane Trust, Princess Angel Star, Kurt Geiger, Mark Gordon, DJ Paddy, Celtic Santa, all donors, our volunteers Jackie and Maria and every Ghirl who attended the event for the part they played in its success. Thanks also to our food donors and the Catering Department at the club for delivering a fantastic menu and service as always.
“Collectively, they have helped us raise more than the roof this Christmas for those who need it most.”
The £15,000+ raised at Ghirls for Good will support our 2016 Christmas Appeal which reflects the very essence of why our club was set up back in 1887. The Appeal aims to help local families and pensioners who face poverty and hardship and a number of charities who care for those experiencing the torment of homelessness or other disadvantage.
And there’s still time to get behind the Appeal:
- Donate by Text – text ‘CELT07’ followed by ‘£1’, ‘£5’ or ‘£10’ to 70070
- Donate Online – www.celticfcfoundation.com
- Donate via Paypal – www.celticfcfoundation.com
- 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.
- Support our matchday bucket collection on Saturday, December 17 – to register as a volunteer collector, call 0141 551 4321 or email [email protected]
- Give as you Live via your Christmas Shopping – www.celticfcfoundation.com
Thank you for your wonderful support.
