From Wearside to London: Foundation of Light Gala shines bright

The Beacon of Light sparkled as the Foundation of Light’s annual Gala Awards Dinner brought together inspirational stories, top-class entertainment, and Black Cats legends in a night that truly showcased the power of football to change lives.

Guests were treated to a stellar line-up of performances, headlined by Frankie and The Dreamers. They were also joined on stage by William Cole, the cello player who went viral ahead of Sunderland’s Wembley triumph earlier this year with his stirring rendition of the club anthem Wise Men Say.

The evening recognised the remarkable achievements of individuals and groups supported by the Foundation’s life-changing programmes, with awards presented for excellence, resilience, and leadership.

Hosted by Sky Sports presenter Tom White and compere Justin Lockwood, the event welcomed former Sunderland stars including Kevin Phillips, Lynden Gooch and Andy Reid, who joined in presenting a series of awards to outstanding participants.

Sunderland AFC Women players Libbi McInnes and Emily Cassap – a former player on the Foundation’s development pathway - also took to the stage to present awards, alongside TV personality and Foundation trustee George Clarke.

In a first for the Gala, the event was also broadcast live to a special venue in London, where guests from the Beyond Sunderland network gathered for their own celebration, hosted by Black Cats legend Kevin Ball.

Beyond Sunderland is a growing network of individuals who are passionate about giving back to the region they came from. By using their experience and connections, members are helping to drive the continued success of Sunderland and expand the Foundation of Light’s reach far beyond Wearside.

Sir Bob Murray CBE, Foundation of Light Chairman, said: “To see our community come together, not just here in Sunderland but also in London through Beyond Sunderland shows the incredible pride and passion people have for their city and club. The support we receive helps us deliver programmes that change lives every day.”

The Gala Awards Dinner once again highlighted the Foundation’s mission: to use the power of football to educate, inspire and improve lives.

That mission is only possible thanks to the generosity of supporters across Wearside and beyond, alongside the invaluable backing of our sponsors, including Harrison Centre for Social Mobility, Hilton Garden Inn Sunderland, Molson Coors, and pbl print, whose continued support helps ensure nights like this make a lasting impact.

Here are the stories of some of the night’s winners:

Carol Rogers

After the tragic murder of her son which led to issues with addiction, Carol took part in a cooking course with the Foundation of Light, which helped her get back to socialising and inspired her to become a volunteer mentor with South Tyneside adult recovery.

Kaillum McDermont

Kaillum joined the Foundation as a young father with no career plans after a leg injury stopped him playing football, his main hobby and outlet. The employability coaching programme helped him find a career path in football coaching, helped him through qualifications, and he’s now working full-time as a Lifeguard while still building coaching experience with the Foundation of Light.

Richard Dunning

Richard, who lives with Parkinson’s disease, was the first member of the Foundation’s Neurological Walking Football session. For a while he was the only member, but his dedication through the years has helped the session grow, with members even forming their own competitive walking football team.

Esther Brooks

Esther has played in the Foundation’s female player pathway for several years. The nine-year-old has huge potential in the game, but used to struggle to control her emotions when she made mistakes on the pitch. After working on managing her emotions, she became a better player, and was fast-tracked to the Sunderland AFC Girls Academy.