CELTIC FC Foundation, the charitable arm of Celtic Football Club, is delighted to announce that it has made a £10,000 donation to Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity (GCHC).

The Hoops first-team squad were in attendance at Glasgow’s Royal Hospital for Children today to hand over the donation and deliver gifts to children there.

Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity raises funds to support the babies, children and young people treated at Scotland’s busiest children’s hospital, which treats nearly 200,000 children each year.

The donation made to GCHC will fund Christmas gifts for children living with long-term health conditions and provide support for some parents, carers and grandparents who may struggle to provide the basic items that they require during a hospital stay.

Celtic Chief Executive Peter Lawwell said: “We are very privileged to have had such a close relationship with Glasgow Children’s Hospital over many years, and over this period have donated hundreds of thousands of pounds to the magnificent work carried out”.

"We know this can be a very difficult time of year for so many people using the hospital and we send all our best wishes to all the children and their families this Christmas. We know the staff work so hard to provide great care for so many children and we thank them too for all they do across the year in supporting children who are in need.”

“Our Christmas Appeal again will ultimately have a huge impact across a wide spectrum of families and fantastic community groups and will make such a positive difference to the lives of thousands of people, once again honouring the great charitable ambitions of the club’s founders.

“Celtic Football Club is totally committed to helping people in real need and at a difficult time of the year for so many, we hope our work, through this year’s appeal, can bring some cheer to those who really need our support.

Club captain, Scott Brown added: “As a team, myself and the rest of the players are delighted to once again make this special Christmas visit.”

"We realise it can be a very difficult time for children and their families who are in hospital, at this time of year. We hope that in some way our visit can lift their spirits and take their minds off things.

“It is important we also thank the staff at the hospital for all they do. They make such a positive difference to the children and they deserve huge praise for the fantastic work they do throughout the year. We wish all the children at the hospital and the staff, a very Merry Christmas.”

Tony Hamilton, Chief Executive of Celtic FC Foundation, added: “It’s an honour to support GCHC once again, through today’s presentation.”

"The donation has been made via our Christmas Appeal, thanks to the incredible generosity of our supporters far and wide.

“The appeal aims to follow in the footsteps of our Founding Fathers, by continuing to help those in our community, who are most in need. We want to help hundreds of local families facing poverty, vulnerable pensioners and our partner charities such as GCHC, who are making a difference to the lives of children, the homeless, refugees and those living in refuge or facing other challenges.

"Following on from the success of last year’s appeal, we are looking to, once again, provide support not only in Glasgow, but also other parts of the UK and Ireland, as well as overseas.”

Shona Cardle, Chief Executive at Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity, said: “It was our pleasure to welcome the players and Celtic FC Foundation to the hospital once again, and we are extremely grateful for this generous donation.

“Christmas can be such a difficult time for children and families in hospital, but thanks to the generosity of the Foundation and the club’s supporters we can provide extra special support for these children this Christmas.”

GCHC becomes the latest Christmas Appeal beneficiary to be announced following on from Loaves and Fishes, The Invisibles, Glasgow East Women’s Aid, St Roch’s FC Foundation, Elpis Centre, the Salvation Army Parkhead, St Anne’s Primary School, St Anne’s Church, the Cardinal Hume Centre, Simon Community Scotland, Spirit Aid, Glasgow Night Shelter, Women’s Aid Dublin and Women’s Aid Belfast and Lisburn.

To get behind the Christmas Appeal 2019, you can:

1. Donate by Text – text ‘CELTIC’ followed by ‘£1’, ‘£5’ or ‘£10’ to 70085*

2. Donate Online

3. Donate via PayPal – www.CelticChristmasAppeal.com

4. Donate in Cash – there are collection boxes located in all Celtic Stores

5. Donate by Cheque – payable to ‘Celtic FC Foundation’ and sent to Celtic FC Foundation, Celtic Park, Glasgow G40 3RE.

6. Provide support through your Christmas shopping via Give as you Live and Amazon Smile – http://www.celticfc.net/news/17086

7. Contribute via our Christmas Appeal eBay auction which is now live and will close tonight (Tuesday) at around 7pm.

8. Make a donation to receive your ‘Celtic FC Foundation Letter from Santa’ – http://www.celticfc.net/news/17114

9. Support our match-day bucket collection on Sunday, December 15 – http://www.celticfc.net/news/17171

10. Purchase the original song from this year’s Celtic Christmas advert, ‘Star Of Glasgow's Green & White’ HERE. Proceeds will support our 2019 Appeal.

Thank you for your magnificent support.

*Texts will cost the donation amount, plus one standard rate message.

Celtic FC Foundation's £10k donation to Glasgow Children's Hospital