MU Foundation thanks fans and staff after festive appeal
Manchester United Foundation expresses thanks and gratitude to all fans, staff and supporters’ groups who answered the call of our Santa’s Red Helpers appeal, raising vital funds for FareShare Greater Manchester and those in need this winter.
The second annual Santa’s Red Helpers campaign, saw Manchester United FC and the Foundation pledge £100,000 to FareShare GM, the local branch of the UK’s biggest food charity that diverts food donations to frontline charities and schools.
The funds will enable FareShare GM to provide 400,000 meals over the continuing winter period, and has already contributed to supporting 15,500 families via 265 organisations over the past four weeks.
Miranda Kaunang, Head of Development at FareShare Greater Manchester, said: “The funding from the Foundation and club was immediately helpful in securing our Christmas provision. It also enables us to plan for the next months, which will be just as tough for many families, in particular around the half-term school meals gap in February. We are extremely grateful to all who donated to the Santa’s Red Helpers appeal – your support really does make a difference to those facing challenging times.”
Additional funds were raised by Manchester United supporters, staff and local fan groups: Manchester United Supporters’ Trust (MUST), The Red Army (TRA) and Manchester United Women Supporters’ Club (MUWSC).
The network of global Manchester United Supporters’ Clubs (MUSCs) also became Red Helpers in their own communities by organising events and donating funds and items to charities close to their hearts.
These included the New South Wales MUSC, who organised a charity football match and raised $1,110 for a local foodbank to provide an additional 2,220 meals over Christmas. Cape Town MUSC (main image above) organised a shoebox appeal to support their longstanding charity Elonwabeni Children’s Home, and Downpatrick MUSC held a food collection between their members and donated to Fountain Foodbank.
The Ghana supporters’ club supported the God’s Love Residential Home orphanage, and Mauritius MUSC made a donation to the Immaculee Marie orphanage, comprising of gifts and school materials. They also donated to SOS Village for Children, including gifts for the children and foster mothers.
Closer to home in Greater Manchester, fan groups MUST, TRA and MUWSC organised collections for local foodbanks, and raised money for FareShare GM through raffles of signed United items.
Manchester United Foundation continues to support our local communities through our work with partner schools and outreach programmes, and we look forward to supporting FareShare GM further in 2022 in a bid to end food poverty.
For more information about the Foundation, please visit mufoundation.org.