The FA and Wembley Stadium Announces Its Charity Partners For 2010
In 2010 The FA Group will continue to support The Bobby Moore Fund, Everyman, The Geoff Thomas Foundation and international charity Coaching for Hope. In addition, it will also support UK football programme, Street League.
Today's news comes as Bobby Moore's widow Stephanie and FA Cup Finalist Geoff Thomas made The FA Cup Fifth Round Draw broadcast live from Wembley Stadium.
All the selected charities went through a stringent process to become official FA partners and this year's organisations encapsulate football, health, global, national and local issues. As well as a substantial five-figure financial donation from The FA's Community Shield Fund, all the charities benefit from a direct association with The FA.
Charity partners are entitled to a host of FA Group benefits which they will use to raise funds including signed England shirts for auction, Wembley Stadium Tours, exposure in The FA’s matchday programmes, tickets for England internationals and an annual fundraiser event at Wembley Stadium.
In addition to the organisations above, The FA will support two significant local campaigns in the borough of Brent: One will be in conjunction with the British Heart Foundation and another is local anti-crime programme Not Another Drop.
Sport Relief remains a partner-in-kind with The FA and the two organisations will once again collaborate in March, details to be announced. The FA remains a huge supporter of the Armed Forces. In 2009, representatives from the Army, Navy and RAF were invited to watch the England squad train and had lunch with them at the team hotel. Tickets for troops were donated for major Wembley matches and invites issued to the Armed Forces for significant FA events such as the unveiling of the Sir Alf Ramsey Bust. This support will continue in 2010 and The FA also contributes financially to the Sporting Chance Clinic set up by former England captain Tony Adams.
The FA’s Chairman Lord Triesman commented: "These are all extremely important and very worthwhile causes and everyone at The FA is really looking forward to working with the charities and helping them to achieve their visions.”
Stephanie Moore MBE said: “We are delighted that The Bobby Moore Fund has been chosen as one of The FA’s charity partners for 2010 and look forward to working together again this year. Since the Fund began, bowel cancer mortality rates have fallen by a quarter. However it remains the second highest cause of cancer death in the UK so we still have much more work to do with the support of fantastic partners like The FA.”
Damien Hatton, Chief Executive, Street League commented: “Street League is delighted and proud to be a nominated charity partner of The FA for 2010. We feel that both The FA and Street League ideally compliment each other’s vision of using the power of football to promote social inclusion across England and beyond.”
Jennifer Provin, Director of Fundraising, Everyman said: “We are delighted with The Football Association’s continued support of Everyman. 2010 marks a decade since the launch of our joint ‘Keep Your Eye on the Ball’ initiative which encourages football supporters to be aware of the signs of testicular and prostate cancers. The FA has given us the ideal platform to talk to men about the diseases that are most likely to affect them and this support literally helps us save lives year after year.”
Geoff Thomas, Founder of the Geoff Thomas Foundation commented: “Our renewed partnership with The FA is fantastic news for the Foundation. 2010 is going to be a very significant year in our development and to have The FA’s support at this time is really the icing on the cake. We enjoyed a great relationship with The FA during 2009. The prestige and significance of the partnership has helped move our campaigning for blood cancer patients onto another level. On a personal note, as a former professional footballer, it gives me an enormous amount of pride to receive so much support from The FA.”
Patrick Jacobs, Chairman of Not Another Drop said: “We are delighted that two of Brent’s most natural partners have joined forces to support the local community.”
Celine Gomez, Head of Account Management, British Heart Foundation commented on the programme: "The partnership with The FA has a common goal - we both understand the importance of physical activity, and how this can help keep your heart healthy. In the UK heart disease remains the biggest killer and can affect everyone including footballers and fans. We are delighted to be working with the FA and over the next 12 months we will be delivering community based initiatives to raise awareness and help people reduce their risk of heart disease."
Kevin Cahill, Chief Executive, Comic Relief said: "I am delighted that we have, once again, been selected as one of The FA's charity partners in what should be an exciting and successful year for us both. Thank you for all your support and good luck with the big one in the summer."
Jane Carter, Director of Coaching for Hope commented: “We are delighted to be continuing our relationship with The FA in this World Cup year. Our work is all about "the coach" and training new coaches in Africa to work with vulnerable young people. The FA's support will help us ensure that there is a real legacy in the community when the tournament is over and all the fans go home."
In 2009, The FA supported Everyman, Coaching For Hope, The Geoff Thomas Foundation, The Bobby Moore Fund and The British Heart Foundation.
The organisation also made a one-off donation to The Sir Bobby Robson Fund at the opening of his Cancer Trials Research Centre presented by England Manager Fabio Capello. Following Sir Bobby's passing in July last year, The FA donated one pound for each ticket sold at the Community Shield, raising well over £80,000.