Manchester City’s Christmas campaign gifts the gift of football

• Manchester City’s Christmas campaign, ‘0161 Christmas Calling’, included gift giving, community events and fundraising to support young people across Manchester.
• The Club has been donating £5 for every sale from a range of selected Christmas retail items to its charity, City in the Community, and matching additional donations from its fans and staff.
• Funds raised will support City in the Community programmes, including those delivered at both Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and Ronald McDonald House.
• Players from Manchester City’s men’s and women’s first teams visited the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and Ronald McDonald House, gifting more than 1,760 items to patients.

Manchester City, its fans, and staff, have come together to support young people across the city of Manchester through the Club’s festive community campaign, ‘0161 Christmas Calling’.

‘0161 Christmas Calling’ included gift giving, community events and fundraising, so far raising a total of £175,000 and counting.

Funds raised will support City in the Community programmes, including those delivered at both Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and Ronald McDonald House, as well as helping to regenerate safe spaces for patients to play.

Since early November, the Club has been donating £5 to its charity, City in the Community (registered charity no. 1139229), for every purchase a fan makes from a range of selected Christmas retail items.

Alongside this, the Club has been matching donations made by fans and staff to City in the Community (with the overall MCFC donation reaching £75,000*).

The Club has also continued its support of the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and Ronald McDonald House through the donation of more than 1,760 gifts, funded by the men’s squad, to children staying in the hospital over the festive period. Players from both the men’s and women’s first teams handed out the gift bags in person when they surprised young patients with a visit earlier this week.

Other men’s players, including Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva, also split their time across various City in the Community projects with local primary school and college students.

Elsewhere this Christmas, City in the Community has been supporting local people with a calendar of free events at the Etihad Campus, as well as helping Manchester-basedorganisations and foodbanks through donations and volunteering, including support from Manchester City’s EDS squad (please see notes to editors for more information).

Nathan Ake, who visited the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital alongside men’s and women’s first team players, said: “Coming to the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital is a highlight of the year for us and I always feel inspired after meeting so many incredible people.

“I enjoyed playing games in the Teen Zone with patients and I hope those memories go some way towards creating a special Christmas for them all.

“But Christmas is about more than just one day, and it makes me proud to know that Manchester City, its fans and City in the Community are creating real, impactful opportunities for young people through the Club’s festive campaign this season.” Danny Wilson, Managing Director – Manchester City Operations and City in the Community

Trustee, said: “We are very proud of the success of the ‘0161 Christmas Calling’ campaign so far. It encapsulates the community values of Manchester City through gift giving, community events and fundraising.

“As a Club, we are passionate about having a positive impact on the lives of young people across Greater Manchester, so ensuring that work can continue and expand is crucial.

“I’m also incredibly proud that City in the Community is creating new opportunities for hospital patients all year round, as well as donating items to foodbanks and hosting events at the Club for those in need this time of year.”

Tanya Hamid, Director of Charity for Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, said: “We’re thrilled that City have continued their long-standing support of Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital this Christmas. The players that visited spent time with patients in our Teen Zone, playing games and chatting, and bringing big smiles to the faces of everyone in the room! We’re delighted the Club have chosen to continue that partnership into 2025 through the delivery of projects that will benefit patients all year round.”

Fans who deserve an unforgettable treat this Christmas have also enjoyed a series of surprise and delight activities, organised as part of the Club’s annual Cityzens Christmas surprise campaign.

The ‘0161 Christmas Calling’ campaign is live until Tuesday 31st December, meaning fans can still make donations to top-up the total.

To make a donation, or find out more about the campaign, visit: www.mancity.com/ChristmasCalling.

*Fair Isle Christmas jumper, 4 in a row Christmas jumper, Gonk plush, Santa teddy plush, Bertie plush, Manchester City’s PUMA home kit for the 2024/25 season.

**MCFC will donate £5 for each product* sold and will match donations made to Manchester City F.C. City in the Community Foundation (registered charity no. 1139229) during the period of 07 November 2024 to 31 December 2024 up to a maximum of £75,000 in total.