Foundation strengthens board with SAFC chairman

Sunderland AFC Chairman Stewart Donald has joined the Board of Trustees at Foundation of Light. Mr. Donald accepted an offer to join the esteemed board from Lifetime Club President, former Chairman and current Foundation of Light Chair of Trustees Sir Bob Murray CBE. Established in 2001 with a mission to improve lives in the North East of England, the Foundation of Light uses the power of football to involve, educate and inspire thousands of children, adults and families every year through sport, health and education. The charity which provides opportunities by which the young and old can improve their lives, has grown tenfold and is recognised as one of the most pioneering sports charities in the world, winning countless awards and accolades for its ground-breaking sports, health, community and education programmes. Sir Bob Murray made the appointment following a meeting with Mr. Donald where they discussed their aspirations and visions for the future, with the community featuring centre stage. Sir Bob Murray commented: "I am delighted to welcome Stewart Donald to our Board of Trustees and to strengthen our links with the football club at the highest level.

I believe Stewart understands what we are striving to achieve and will be very supportive of our ambitions to help change even more lives in the future through the Foundation of Light’s pioneering programmes and the new Beacon of Light, which is one of a kind.

“I know very well first-hand, and think Stewart already has a very good sense of just important Sunderland AFC is in inspiring and motivating the people of this fantastic region, so I’m looking forward to working with him to make a difference where we can.” Chairman of SAFC, Stewart Donald added: "From what I've seen so far, and from visiting the Beacon of Light, I have been very impressed with what Foundation of Light, as the club's official charity, has achieved. When Sir Bob asked me to join the Board of Trustees I was delighted to accept. "The people of Sunderland and wider North East region are at the heart of our desire to reconnect and revive this great football club. I look forward to working alongside Sir Bob and the other Trustees to improve the lives of those in need across Wearside and beyond." Mr. Donald joins a trustee board comprising of leading figures from the worlds of education, health and wellbeing, sport and play and the world of work/industry and enterprise. The current Trustees of Foundation of Light are: Sir Bob Murray CBE; Kate Adie OBE DL; George Clarke; Paul Collingwood MBE; Steve Cram CBE; The Rt Hon The Baroness Estelle Morris of Yardley, PC; Colonel The Hon James Ramsbotham DL; Sir Tim Rice; and Sir Peter Vardy DL. The £20m Beacon of Light opened in June 2018 and is the first community hub of its type in the UK, fusing together sport, education and the world of work alongside health and wellbeing under one roof. Amongst the Beacon of Light's sports facilities are: three indoor sports courts for netball, basketball and futsal; 12 badminton courts; six five-a-side 3G pitches; and a seven-a-side 4G indoor football barn.