MANCHESTER United Foundation is set to release a film showcasing what stars, including Sir Alex Ferguson, Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimović and Paul Pogba, get up to off the pitch.
The Old Trafford-based charity is celebrating its 10th anniversary this month, after forming following the UEFA Celebration match on March 13 2007.
A Manchester United side, including Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo, took on a Europe XI including Zlatan Ibrahimović, Steven Gerrard and Andrea Pirlo and the funds raised went towards setting up Manchester United Foundation.
Paul Pogba gets interviewed as part of Manchester United Foundation's Dream Days
The foundation has received extensive support from Manchester United players, club ambassadors and celebrities, examples of which are highlighted in the ‘Foundation: 10 Years’ documentary, which will be shown on MUTV tomorrow, Wednesday March 8 at 9pm.
Former players, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs, Rio Ferdinand and Robin van Persie, are seen visiting foundation partner schools, projects and hospitals, whilst legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson puts smiles on faces at an annual Dream Day.
Wayne Rooney meets pupils of one of the foundation partner schools
“The foundation epitomises Manchester United’s care for the rest of Manchester,” said Sir Alex.
“It has played a great part in terms of educating young people and charity work so I really have to say well done to them because it still there and it’s still doing very well.”
Over the years, the current Manchester United first-team has taken part in various charity activities and most recently celebrated at the annual #SchoolsUnited events, where they have seen first-hand the impact the charity has on the lives of local children.
Wayne Rooney meets pupils of one of the foundation partner schools
Defender Chris Smalling said: “We’re lucky to be able to participate in a lot of the foundation’s work; I know when I was in school if I had a footballer come down and have a kick about, I would probably have about 10 questions written down ready to fire away at them! So it’s nice to be able to do something that means so much and can give them inspiration for the rest of their education.”
The Manchester United Foundation currently works with over 20,000 young people across Greater Manchester. Since 2014, the partner schools programme has more than doubled in size and now bases full time coaches in 20 high schools across the city.
The Premier League-funded Street Reds project operates in 12 locations, offering young people the opportunity to pursue their interest in playing, leading and coaching football, and the disability and girls’ provision have grown to represent the top tiers in their respective leagues.
Robin Van Persie meets sick children during the foundation's Christmas Dream Day
Manchester United managing director and Foundation chairman, Richard Arnold, said: “The foundation allows us to connect with our communities in Manchester, with the youth of Manchester, in the schools that we partner with and our projects in the evenings, connecting with kids and their parents.
“The world is our oyster; there’s a huge possibility for us to reach out and grow and I know the Foundation has huge ambition and huge goals for the future.”
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