The Foundation of Light, the official charity of Sunderland AFC and the largest football charity in the UK, is inviting fans to help choose a commemorative shirt design to mark its 25th anniversary. Supporters have the opportunity to vote on four unique shirt concepts, which were developed in partnership with the club’s official kit partner, Hummel.
Established on 6 September 2001 by former club chairman Sir Bob Murray, the charity has spent the last quarter century providing support to more than 500,000 people across Sunderland, South Tyneside, and County Durham. To celebrate this milestone, the organisation is running a series of events and initiatives, including the 25 Challenges for 25 Years campaign, which features activities ranging from physical sports challenges to community baking projects.
Lesley Spuhler OBE, who has served as the chief executive of the charity since its founding, said the initiative was designed to include the community in the anniversary celebrations. According to the charity, every person who participates in the online voting process will be entered into a prize draw for a chance to win the final limited-edition shirt.
The winning design will be put into production and will be available for purchase before the charity celebrates its official birthday month in November 2026. The Beacon of Light, the organisation’s headquarters located next to the Stadium of Light, continues to serve as the hub for its wide range of community and youth programmes.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
