Celtic FC Foundation are delighted to confirm that our 2025 Christmas Appeal has been our most successful to date, raising and distributing an astonishing total of £425,000.

Once again, it has been a winter period where the cost-of-living crisis has continued to negatively impact so many lives.

Unfortunately, this has sadly seen the demand and need for our support continue to grow to an even greater level this Christmas than we have ever seen before, with so many families and individuals facing hardship.

The Appeal was once again part of a joint campaign with the Football Club, as we encouraged supporters to ‘Share the Spirit of Christmas’ this festive season. At a time when so many supporters face their own personal financial challenges, the response to our Appeal has been truly remarkable, inspiring and deeply humbling.

Yet again, the Celtic family has stood with us and ensured that Christmas will be a more comfortable and joyful period for so many.

We simply could not have achieved this incredible outcome without the magnificent generosity of so many people including worldwide Celtic supporters, the Club and our colleagues across all departments, trustees, partners, sponsors, suppliers and funders.

Monies raised have now been distributed, to ensure that your efforts will make a genuine difference to those in need, ahead of Christmas Eve. In summary, together, we have contributed:

£196,000: Glasgow and the West families with children
£21,000: Irish Women’s Aid families
£7,500: Gifts/Festive outings/Parties for Glasgow children
£40,500: Local OAPs and other vulnerable individuals
£78,000: Children/Families charity beneficiaries
£15,000: Women’s Aid charity beneficiaries
£47,000: Homeless charity beneficiaries
£20,000: Refugee charity beneficiaries

For the third successive year, we will also host a very special Paradise Pit Stop session on Christmas Day, as the Kerrydale Suite will once again open its doors between 12noon and 2pm, and we will welcome around 400 guests for a three-course Christmas dinner, entertainment and a visit from Santa!

As well as an outstanding level of direct donations received, we held a number of key fundraising initiatives as part of the Appeal, including:

Walfrid’s Wishlist, courtesy of the Club – duration of Appeal
Virtual Christmas Tree – Thursday, November 6 – present
Matchday Bucket Collection – Sunday, November 9
Christmas Appeal Shirt Auction – Tuesday, November 11 – Tuesday, November 18
Celtic Sleep Out, Glasgow – Saturday, November 15
Prize Draw – Wednesday, November 19 – Friday, December 19
Ghirls for Good – Friday, November 28
New Foundation Scarf – Friday, November 28 – present
Christmas Appeal eBay Auction – Wednesday, December 3 – Wednesday, December 10
Christmas Appeal Silent Auction – Sunday, December 7
Celtic Sleep Out, London – Friday, December 12
The Hoopy and Hailey Christmas Party – Thursday, December 18

Your magnificent support has allowed us to assist a total of 1,114 families facing poverty and hardship, helping them to enjoy the kind of Christmas that everyone deserves, with food on the table and gifts under the tree.

We also helped 543 vulnerable local pensioners and other individuals across Glasgow and the West and Edinburgh, through the provision of Christmas vouchers, hampers and meals.

We supported 722 Glasgow children directly – 205 attended a P5 Christmas party at Celtic Park, 117 received a special Christmas gift and a further 400 were provided with brand new toys and gifts, kindly donated by the guests at our Ghirls for Good event and distributed by a host of beneficiary organisations.

We also hosted a festive lunch for around 120 of our friends from Simon Community Scotland in the Kerrydale Suite.

In addition, donations have been made to 41 grassroots organisations who support children, women and children in refuge, the homeless community and refugees, primarily in Glasgow and the West, but also in wider Scotland, Dublin, Belfast, London, wider England and Ottawa.

With your outstanding generosity, we have been able to ‘Share the Spirit of Christmas’ with so many who needed our support. Thank you.

A more detailed overview of the 2025 Christmas Appeal can be found HERE.

Tony Hamilton, Celtic FC Foundation Chief Executive, said: “To raise and distribute a record total of £425,000 through this year‘s Appeal has been truly phenomenal and I’d like to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has got behind the campaign and helped make it such a success - including the Celtic supporters across the world, our partners, private donors, sponsors, suppliers and funders.

“Thank you also to all of our Club and Foundation colleagues for their outstanding efforts over these past couple of months.

“At a time when so many are continuing to feel the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, to be able to provide this level support to those in need within our communities during the Christmas period, has been incredible.

“Countless children, families and vulnerable people will experience a more joyful and peaceful Christmas thanks to your generosity. From everyone at Celtic FC Foundation, we hope you have a very happy Christmas and a safe and prosperous 2026.”

Celtic FC Chief Executive, Michael Nicholson, added: “The Foundation’s Christmas Appeal takes us right back to the heart of why the Club was formed 138 years ago, to assist those in our communities that need a little help.

"And with Christmas being such a challenging time of year for those facing hardships in their lives, we’re absolutely delighted and extremely proud that another record amount has been raised and distributed through this year’s Appeal, providing more help than ever before.

“On behalf of the Club, I would like to thank all of those who have contributed and everyone who has played a part in making this another hugely successful annual Christmas Appeal for Celtic FC Foundation. Thanks for your wonderful support and all the very best to you and your families this Christmas.”

Celtic FC Foundation Christmas Appeal raises and distributes record total of £425k