Black Cat ambassadors announced

Sunderland AFC’s official charity, Foundation of Light have announced their player ambassadors for 2020-21 season. A record seven first-team players have confirmed their support, including last season’s PFA Community Champion, Tom Flanagan, who will be supporting sports participation and will help highlight the vital work the charity does within the community alongside his teammates. Bailey Wright, Luke O’Nien, Grant Leadbitter, Lynden Gooch, Aiden O’Brien and Dion Sanderson, will represent, fundraising, disability, mental health and wellbeing, education, social inclusion and National Citizenship Service respectively. In addition to the first-team players, four under 18 scholars; Sonny Singh, Ryan Gooch, Patrick Almond and Josh Baggs, are showing their support and backing education programmes within secondary schools including Premier League Inspires.

I’m very proud to be working alongside the Foundation and being their disability ambassador.  They have done lots and lots of work over the years to support adults and children and I look forward to working alongside them going forward

Luke O’Nien, Sunderland AFC defender

[video width="448" height="848" mp4="https://www.foundationoflight.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/ONien-ambassador-video.mp4"][/video] Jamie Wright, Managing Director for the Foundation of Light added: “We’re delighted to have so many of the players be ambassadors for programmes we deliver.  The last year has been hard for many of us and by having their support, either in person or virtually will mean so much to a number of our participants. “Getting support from the under 18s is important too, many are still in education and to back the delivery of our secondary school programmes, the pupils can relate to them and seek advice. “We look forward to working with all of the players and help raise awareness of the vital work we do within our communities.” So far this season, vice club captain, Bailey Wright has backed Ha’way and Play, a new matchday lottery, club captain Grant Leadbitter fronted Give a Quid to help combat social isolation and Luke O’Nien surprised a local school and took part in a virtual Q&A with pupils. Every season, Sunderland AFC players (not just ambassadors) give up their time and visit community programmes and sessions. Foundation of Light’s portfolio of delivery covers sport, health and welling, education, and world of work, working with tens of thousands of course registrants every year.