Manchester United join fans in sending festive gifts to children worldwide

Another great gesture from the Manchester United Foundation!

Thousands of vulnerable children around the world have received festive gift packs as part of Manchester United Foundation’s Santa’s Red Helpers campaign, supported by club captain Harry Maguire and the rest of Manchester United’s players.

A total of seven thousand activity bags were sent by the Foundation to children across Greater Manchester, and in partnership with official Manchester United Supporters’ Clubs, to a range of children’s charities across the UK and afar.

DHL delivered the gift packs free of charge and deserve an enormous amount of credit for that, along with the Foundation which has done outstanding work throughout this difficult year.

The packs include a game, book, pencil case, notepad and hat.

Charities supportive of the initiative range from the Hope Kolkata Foundation, which supports homeless children in Kolkata, India, to the Children’s Cancer Centre in Lebanon.

Some of the gift bags were personally packed by Harry Maguire. On top of that, he and his United team-mates donated £250,000 to the Santa’s Red Helpers campaign, with additional sums coming from club staff and fans.

John Shiels, Chief Executive of Manchester United Foundation, said: “Many children are exposed to the economic and social disruption caused by COVID-19, and the impact is being felt especially acutely during this festive season as the pandemic casts a cloud over what should be a joyful time of year.

“Our Santa’s Red Helpers campaign is dedicated to supporting young people on our doorstep and further afield, in keeping with Manchester United’s traditions as a football club with deep local roots and wide global appeal.

“We are delighted to be working with some of our most passionate fans around the world to spread cheer to vulnerable children in their local areas, building on the excellent partnership we have developed with Manchester United Supporters’ Clubs during the pandemic.

“We are also grateful to DHL for using their global network to shuttle the gifts to children in 13 countries on five continents.”

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