MANY of the Tees region’s leading businesses have banded together under the umbrella of Teesside Philanthropic Foundation to provide a unique £20,000 cash jackpot to 15 local sports clubs.
The Foundation’s first ever £20,000 Sporting Golden Giveaway will give not-for-profit sports groups from Middlesbrough, Stockton, Loftus, Thornaby, Hartlepool, Guisborough and Billingham a chance to share the cash.
The groups include football teams, swimming clubs, a boxing gym, a tennis club for the visually impaired, a wheelchair sports club, a gymnastics group, rugby club, organisations supporting those with disabilities and a zumba group for those aged over-50.
Among the Tees businesses backing the scheme as patrons of the Foundation are Cool Blue Brand Communications, Hunters Estate Agents, Cleveland Cable Company, Nicholson Group, The Build Directory, RMB Auto and AV Dawson.
The Golden Giveaway finalists will each receive at least £500 after a panel of the foundation’s patrons shortlisted them from 40 entries – but they could win up to £5,000 if they receive more votes than their fellow finalists.
The second-placed charity will receive £2,500, there’s £2,000 for third place, fourth and fifth get £1,500, sixth to eighth will receive £1,000, there’s £750 for ninth to 12th, and the final three will receive £500 each.
Members of the public are now being asked to visit the Foundation’s website at www.teessidecharity.org.uk to vote for their favourite sporting cause.
The 15-strong list of finalists was compiled by a panel of the Foundation’s patrons featuring David and Moira Nicholson of the Nicholson Group, Keith Miller of Ecco Finishing Supplies, Shaun Hughes of Erimus Insurance Brokers and Gary Dawson of AV Dawson.
Keith Miller said: “It’s so important that the public take a few seconds to vote for which of our Golden Giveaway finalists they would most like to receive the biggest share of the cash. Their vote could make all the difference.
“We have run a number of £20,000 Golden Giveaways in the past, but this is the first time we’ve held a Giveaway exclusively for sports projects, who do so much to forge strong local bonds within our local communities.”
Those hoping to receive votes from the Teesside community are:
- Tees Valley Sound Tennis – for balls and kit for blind and visually impaired
- Submit 2 Success – for free health and fitness sessions in deprived areas
- Soccability – for an activity trip for youngsters with various disabilities
- Loftus Dolphins Swimming Club – towards £5,000 starting blocks
- Hartlepool Headland Boxing Gym – to help running costs of gym that charges just £1 per session
- Tees Valley Wheelchair Sports Club – towards women’s basketball and wheelchair tennis
- Billingham Juniors Football Club – for a container and compound to store equipment
- Golden Zumba at Hand in Hand Activities – towards over-50s fitness and social sessions
- Tees Valley Gymnastics Club – towards a new sprung floor for Middlesbrough gym
- Guisborough Rugby Club Mini & Juniors – for new equipment and fencing
- Middlesbrough Sportability Club – for events and equipment for those with disabilities
- Thornaby Youth Zone – for river-based activities for those with disabilities and autism
- Boro Rangers Disability – for equipment for adults with range of disabilities
- Thornaby Amateur Swimming Club – towards training for volunteer coaches
- Stockton West End Football Club – for kit and equipment for young players from Portrack and Tilery
To vote for your favourite sports project in the £20,000 Sporting Golden Giveaway, visit www.teessidecharity.org.uk. Voting is strictly one vote per email address.
The online vote ends at 5pm on Friday June 23.
Other Teesside companies who are patrons of the Philanthropic Foundation include Active Chartered Financial Planners, The Endeavour Partnership, First Choice Labels, PASS, AV Dawson, Devereux Transport, Nortech, CPD Bodies, The Keys Yarm, Mandale Group, Unasys, PX Group, Evolution, Barclays Middlesbrough, Viral Effect, Middlesbrough FC, Bulkhaul, PX Group, Henderson Insurance Brokers, Mandale Group, Castlegate Shopping Centre, InBond, Charles Clinkard and Carter Steel.
Individual patrons include Bill Scott, Alistair Waite, Ian Tracey, Andy Preston, Ian and Adrienne Stark, Simon Scotchbrook, Barney Ord, Steve Nichols, Rob McLaughlin and the McCullagh, Stephenson, Sizer and Wadsworth families.