CELTIC FC Foundation, the charitable arm of Celtic Football Club, today announced that it has made a £22,419 donation to Mary’s Meals as part of their latest fundraising initiative. Fans’ favourite, Victor Wanyama was there to support the Foundation’s 1254125 campaign, which was launched last summer as part of the club’s 125th anniversary celebrations, to improve the lives of the world´s poorest and most vulnerable people. The Kenyan born mid-fielder offered his backing as a keen supporter of Mary’s Meals, a charity which sets up and runs school feeding projects in communities where hunger and poverty prevent children from gaining an education. The aim of Mary’s Meals is to address the immediate needs of a hungry child by giving them something to eat, and to enable that child to receive the education that can offer an escape from poverty. The average global cost to feed a child for a whole school year is just £10.70. The Celtic FC Foundation hope to net a total of £1.25M for good causes as part of its 1254125 campaign by asking its supporters around the world to each raise £125. One of the key events in the 1254125 calendar was the Sporting Dinner held back in March of which Mary’s Meals was a principal beneficiary. The Celtic FC Foundation donation will fund the construction, equipping and running of a feeding shelter for 450 pupils who receive Mary’s Meals at the Mwiruti Primary School in Eldoret, Kenya. It will also allow the provision of food supplies for a full year. The Mary’s Meals project in the town of Eldoret in Western Kenya is home to thousands of street children who have precarious living conditions and spend their waking hours looking for food or work on the streets. Their situation is desperate, most sniff glue to suppress the hunger pangs and to dull the pain of life on the streets. The school feeding programme is aimed at encouraging these street children to go to school where they can not only get a daily meal, but get the opportunity to gain an education for a brighter future off the streets. Mary’s Meals Chief Executive and founder, Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow, said: “Our vision is that every child should be able to receive one good meal every day in a place of education and that those who have more than they need share with those who lack even the most basic things. In this world of plenty there is no reason that can’t happen. “Since Celtic was formed originally in order to put food into the mouths of hungry children, there are many striking commonalities between the club and Mary’s Meals. We thank them from the bottom of our hearts for this donation and look forward to our partnership thriving in the months and years ahead.” Celtic Chief Executive Peter Lawwell, added: “We are absolutely delighted to lend our support, through Celtic FC Foundation, to Mary’s Meals which is a remarkable charity. The fact that it costs just £10.70 to feed a child for a whole school year is an exceptionally powerful and thought-provoking message. “I have every faith that the donation of £22,419 made on behalf of the Celtic Family, will have a substantial and lasting effect on the children at Mwiruti Primary School and honour the charitable principles of Celtic Football Club.” Victor Wanyama added: “Celtic’s unique traditions of charity and community are an inspiration and since joining the club, more and more I have learned of the many ways the club makes a difference. “I was delighted to attend the Marys Meals fundraising event and it is a wonderful example of the club and the fans working together for a real positive reason. “It is very humbling to see children in my own country receiving such support and I sincerely thank everyone involved. I wish Mary’s Meals continued success in helping children in need around the world.” Celtic FC Foundation is a new entity, incorporating the current merger and Celtic Charity and the Celtic Foundation into a new, stronger Scottish Charity with a wider role and greater reach. Celtic FC Foundation is now beginning to take shape and supporters will see this developing further over the coming months. Following the end of the formal merger period, the new charity will officially be launched.
Posted on: Fri, 07 Jun 2013 09:19:41 +0000
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