Blackpool Football Club and Blackpool Football Club Community Trust are proud to announce the return of the Festive Fundraiser campaign for a fifth consecutive year.
Initially launched in 2020, the Club and Trust formed the Festive Fundraiser after learning of the shocking statistic that over 1000 primary school children across Blackpool could go without a present on Christmas Day.
Thanks to the generous donations from supporters and businesses throughout the community over the past four years, an outstanding amount of £104,801 has been raised to date.
This incredible total has meant 5899 Christmas presents have been delivered to children across Blackpool over the past four years.
The Club and Community Trust are now fundraising once again this Christmas, and are asking supporters and businesses to come together to help where possible. As per the initial fundraiser, the Club's Owner, Simon Sadler, has also committed to match the final amount raised pound-for-pound.
Simon Sadler said:
"Since becoming custodian of the football club five years ago, this campaign has been a real highlight, with overwhelming examples of generosity demonstrated throughout our local community. The incredible fundraising from everyone year-on-year is truly humbling, whilst the efforts of the Community Trust staff and first-team players to both wrap and deliver the thousands of gifts in time for the big day is another example of the collective hard work and selflessness that epitomises our town.
“The contributions from not just our partners, sponsors, first-team squad and supporters but the wider Blackpool community has had an incredible impact – but there is still so much more we can do.
"Every football club has a vital role to play within their communities, and I strongly believe that the Club and Trust have a shared responsibility to help those in need within our town. Let's all come together once again this Christmas to try and spread some more festive cheer."
CEO of Blackpool FC Community Trust, Ashley Hackett said:
“Whilst we appreciate that many in our great town are finding finances difficult this year, we are aware that there are children and families that are feeling the pinch even further. We therefore ask for everyone to please help, in whatever capacity they can to make sure we prevent the heartbreaking thought of any child in Blackpool waking up on Christmas morning without a lovely gift to open.
“The generosity, support and togetherness this project has shown over the years, is genuinely one of the programmes we deliver that brings the most pride.
“Any donation, whether it be a £1 or a £100 all contribute and are greatly appreciated. To help even further please make sure you press the Gift Aid link, which will add a further 25% to your donation, without costing you any more.”
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