SAFC dedicates Founders’ Week to Foundation of Light as charity celebrates 25 years

Sunderland AFC will celebrate 25 years of its official charity, Foundation of Light, with a special week of activity culminating in the dedicated Foundation Matchday against Leeds United on Sunday 25 October.

This year’s Foundation Matchday will take on extra significance, with the Club dedicating its annual Founders’ Week, from 19 - 25 October, to the charity’s 25th anniversary and a quarter of a century of changing lives across the North East.

Throughout the week, SAFC and the Foundation will come together to celebrate the people, programmes and partnerships that have shaped the charity’s first 25 years, while raising vital funds to help its work continue for generations to come.

A host of special activities are planned across Founders’ Week and on matchday itself, involving current and former players, supporters and communities from across the region.

At the heart of the celebrations will be a special commemorative shirt produced by Sunderland AFC technical partner hummel to mark Foundation of Light’s 25th anniversary.

The Sunderland first team will warm up in the commemorative shirts ahead of the Leeds United fixture, giving the Foundation a high-profile presence inside the Stadium of Light on its dedicated matchday.

Current and former Sunderland players will also get involved in Foundation activities during Founders’ Week, helping to shine a light on the charity’s impact and the people it supports.

Matchday will begin across the road from the Stadium of Light with an extra-special Fan Zone at the Beacon of Light, bringing supporters together ahead of kick-off with entertainment and activities as the 25th anniversary celebrations continue.

Further activity will take place throughout the day, showcasing the breadth of Foundation of Light’s work and giving supporters opportunities to get involved and help raise funds.

Since being established in 2001, Foundation of Light has used the power of Sunderland AFC to create opportunities and change lives across Sunderland, South Tyneside and County Durham.

Today, the Foundation supports more than 23,000 people each year through programmes spanning education and employability, physical activity, football, health and wellbeing, and mentoring and guidance.

Foundation of Light Chief Executive Lesley Spuhler said: “Foundation Matchday is always a special occasion for us, but this year it will mean even more as we celebrate our 25th anniversary.

“For the Club to dedicate Founders’ Week to Foundation of Light is a wonderful recognition of the relationship between the Club, its official charity and the communities we serve.

“For 25 years we have used the power of Sunderland AFC to inspire people, create opportunities and change lives. This week gives us the chance to celebrate everyone who has been part of that journey, while raising vital funds to make sure we can be there for people for many years to come.

“We’re incredibly grateful to Sunderland AFC, hummel, our partners and, most importantly, the supporters who have backed the Foundation throughout our first 25 years.”

Click here for further details of Founders’ Week activities.