U23 boss David Unsworth and his Everton youngsters smash £230,000 fundraising target.
Everton’s Under-23 team has been instrumental in raising the stunning sum of £244,400 to fund the fight against homelessness in Liverpool.
The charity drive, led by U23 manager David Unsworth, raised money to pay for the purchase and operation of a house near Goodison Park. The home will provide shelter for 16-23 year olds who have fallen on hard times or fallen out of the care system.
Under the ‘Home is Where The Heart Is’ banner, the campaign launched in November 2016 with a sleepout in Everton’s famous old stadium on one of the coldest nights of the year. All the Everton U23 squad, including members of the coaching staff, braved the freezing temperatures in aid of the good cause.
David Unsworth said: “I would like to say a massive thank you to everybody from the committee, all the fans and the Under-23 players who have taken part in our amazing campaign.”
COMING TOGETHER
The campaign has been embraced at every level of the club. Significant cash donations from Everton Chairman Bill Kenwright and the board, club legend Duncan Ferguson, and right-back Seamus Coleman boosted the coffers.
Twenty-three fans from the Everton Supporters’ Club cycled the 230 miles from Sligo to Goodison, mirroring Seamus Coleman’s move from Sligo Rovers to Everton, raising £60,000 for the campaign.
Unsworth added: “To finally reach the target is an amazing achievement and to have done it so quickly is just fabulous. We’ve done something special and we will continue to help, support and fund the project. It’s just great to be able to help people who are less fortunate than ourselves. Thank you so much to everybody who has played a part.”
SUPPORTING YOUNGSTERS
The initiative will be delivered by Everton in the Community. And the club’s official charity will also provide the young people involved with access to health and wellbeing support, as well as assistance with education employment and training.
Everton in the Community’s Executive Chair, Professor Denise Barrett-Baxendale, said: “For us to reach such an ambitious fundraising target in such a short amount of time epitomises the spirit of not just Evertonians but the people of Liverpool in general, who have wholeheartedly got behind this campaign to help us combat homelessness in our city.”
Fundraising continues and donations can be made via the ‘Home Is Where The Heart Is’ JustGiving page. Professor Barrett-Baxendale added: “We will not rest on our laurels now the money has been raised and will continue to search for a house close to Goodison Park where we can offer young people a place to stay in Liverpool before they become homeless.”
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