The generosity and commitment of the Foundation’s Trustees and Patrons is helping to shine a spotlight on Teesside for all the right reasons - from willingness to give, to the strength of our private sector and the area’s ambitions for a more positive future. Thank you to every one of them.
www.teessidecharity.org.uk Registered Charity No 1140740
Registered Charity Number 1140740
THE EVENT YOU CAN’T MISS
CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE
It’s the event everyone goes to – and our Annual Ball is back once more on October 13th when Wynyard Hall’s sumptuous Grand Marquee plays host again. We can promise you a truly spectacular night, featuring fantastic food, great company, superb entertainment and, of course, much fundraising.
WE’RE CHANGING LIVES FOR THE BETTER
We usually raise in the region of £40,000 for the Foundation at our annual ball, so this really is the one not to be missed.
I’m often moved by the very positive impact our charity can have on Teesside – but two of our most recent projects are especially moving.
Get your tickets, priced £890 per table of 10, from diane.w@teessidecharity.org.uk
Thanks to an incredible donation from an anonymous benefactor, we’ve been able to make some very significant one-off donations.
IT’S GREAT TO RUN, BUT BETTER IF IT’S FOR TEESSIDE
The first of these we announced was funding of a £100,000 project for an incredible charity called Grandparents Plus.
We’re looking for big-hearted volunteers to represent Teesside in this year’s Great North Run, the world’s biggest half marathon. The Philanthropic Foundation has guaranteed places available for the race which is taking place on Sunday, September 10.
Donating £100,000 is a momentous occasion for our charity. This was by far our biggest ever donation but we know its impact will be felt right across Teesside for many years to come among some of the most vulnerable families. We then announced a project to allow some of Teesside’s poorest families to go on holiday – by purchasing a high quality eight-berth caravan on a great Yorkshire coast site. What’s exciting for our organisation is that this is our first permanent piece of social action. The support of brilliant local businesses means we’ve helped lots of people in different ways over the years, but this is our first permanent marker for fairness that will allow us to go on doing good for many years to come. We’ll be enriching the lives of scores of our least privileged local families and ensuring some of the poorest kids no longer feel left out when everyone talks about their holidays when they go back to school after the summer break. The children will gain life experiences – it may even be the first time they have left their hometown or their first visit to the seaside.” We owe our patrons PX Group a big debt of gratitude for introducing us to the anonymous benefactor who has made this and other big projects possible. Look out for details of more big news in the near future. In the meantime, we must go on fighting for Teesside together – that means fundraising to ensure we continue to change lives. Thank you for your support. Andy Preston Founder-Chairman
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EVENTS
Those who sign up to raise money for the Foundation will not only secure their place but also receive a running vest and useful training tips. For more information on obtaining a guaranteed place, or if you have managed to secure your own place and would like to run on behalf of the Foundation, please call Mandy on 01642 686018 or email mandy.s@teessidecharity.org.uk. Deadline for entries is July 3.
EVENTS IN MEMORY OF ALI Like many others, everyone at the Foundation was shocked last year by the passing of our good friend Ali Brownlee – the Voice of the Boro, soundtrack to a generation, charity champion and officially a Teesside Hero. So we were delighted to learn that the popular Middlesbrough 5k he started for many years had fittingly been renamed the Ali Brownlee Riverside Run in his honour. Now we’re looking for Teessiders to take part on Sunday July 2 whilst raising cash for the varied community causes we support. The Foundation will pay your entry fee and provide a T-shirt or running vest if you pledge to raise at least £100 in sponsorship. For more info or to sign up please contact mandy.s@teessidecharity.org.uk Published by: Middlesbrough & Teesside Philanthropic Foundation Magazine Editor: Dave Allan, DNA PR & Publicity Design: Eighty8 Design Photography: Doug Moody Photography, Martin Walker Print: Quoin, Middlesbrough Website: www.teessidecharity.org.uk Facebook: Teesside Charity Twitter: @teessidecharity Email: info@teessidecharity.org.uk
HEAD FOR THE TOP
QUESTION TIME
Back by popular demand, we’re again asking our supporters to join us for the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge on July 15.
We’re looking for more teams to join our quiz night on Thursday June 15 at the Riverside Stadium, home of our patrons Middlesbrough FC.
So it’s time to get those walking boots on and take on the challenge of climbing Yorkshire’s three highest peaks – Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough. It’s a 24.5-mile walk that needs to be achieved inside 12 hours. There’s a series of training events available for those who want to get some practice in ahead of the event. Good walking boots, waterproofs and lunch are essential, as is a big dollop of determination! Entry fee is just £30, though we do ask you to raise funds via sponsorship too. To reserve your place email mandy.s@teessidecharity.org.uk
Kindly organised by Paul Card Recruitment, the £10/ person entry fee includes a finger buffet. All funds raised will go towards the Foundation’s work to help the least privileged local organisations and people. Why not put a team together of up to six people? They can be colleagues, friends or family members. For more details, email mandy.s@teessidecharity.org.uk
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NEWS Foundation chairman Andy Preston and Endeavour Partnership present a £15,000 cheque to the Prince’s Trust.
GREAT ENDEAVOUR
We’re delighted to announce that we’ve joined forces with our patrons Endeavour Partnership to donate £15,000 to Fairbridge Teesside, the Middlesbrough centre of the Prince’s Trust charity. The big-hearted team at the Teesside corporate law firm took on the challenge of raising £7,500 for the charity – with the Foundation agreeing to match-fund the total if they reached their goal.
Jenny Williams (Philanthropic Foundation), Emma Hart (Visualsoft) and Emma Simkins (Henderson Insurance Brokers) at the Ladies’ Lunch.
GIRLS’ TALK IS A HIT
Our latest Ladies’ Lunch was another huge success, raising £3,200 for Teesside worthy causes amid the stunning surrounds of Acklam Hall. Nearly 100 ladies lunched before hearing an entertaining talk by The Gingerbread Mam, Liz Ramshaw.
Endeavour raised the sum in a variety of ways including sales of planners, featuring iconic local images photographed by one of their team - keen photographer Nick Dent.
Our thanks for all those who attended including representatives of our patrons The Endeavour Partnership, Hunters Estate Agents, Barclays (Middlesbrough), Erimus Insurance Brokers, Castlegate Shopping Centre, Mandale Group, Evolution Business and Tax Advisors, Henderson Insurance Brokers and Cool Blue Brand Communications.
They also organised sponsored walks, bake-offs and a Transporter Bridge challenge, which saw 15 of the team climbing the 210 steps to the top of the bridge.
Also there were our individual patrons Jayne Stephenson and Adrienne Stark, and our trustees Emily Bentley, Emma Simkins and Harriet Spalding. Others represented Archers Law, Tilly Baily & Irvine, NUR Fitness, Santander, Sound Training, CoreLegal, Calm Digital, Armstrong Richardson, Poppy’s Hair Salon and Marton Electrical. Look out for the next Ladies Lunch on 23rd November at Rudby Hall
Harriet Spalding and Charlotte Jones at the peak of Kilimanjaro.
KILI CONQUEROR RAISES £5,600 FOR CHARITY
LOOK WHAT WE GOT AT THE SHOP!
Harriet, who was joined on the journey by friend Charlotte Jones, overcame gale force winds, altitude sickness, exhaustion and temperatures plummeting to minus 20 to reach Kilimanjaro’s 5,895m summit at the end of a six-day trek through rain forests and mountainous terrain.
Every time a Co-op member buys Co-op branded goods 1% is given to their chosen charity. We were supported by the Co-op stores in Linthorpe and at The Oval in Brookfield, as well as the local funeral homes.
Harriet Spalding of our patrons Mandale hit the heights by raising £5,600 for the Foundation when climbing Africa’s highest mountain, Kilimanjaro.
Harriet admitted: “I don’t think I’d have made it to the top if not for the charity. It was awful at times but I just kept telling myself that I couldn’t let down all those people who’d sponsored me.
Charlotte raised more than £6,500 for the Aplastic Anaemia Trust in memory of her grandfather who died of the blood disease.
Our first ever £20,000 Sporting Golden Giveaway is an exclusive chance for local sports organisations to win at least £500 – and potentially as much as £5,000.
Expertly hosted by BBC Tees presenter Gary Philipson, the night starred three times Olympian Chris Tomlinson, BDO World Darts Champion Glen Durrant and Boro legends John Hendrie and Craig Hignett.
The money will be split between 15 local sports organisations, with the public able to vote via the Foundation’s official website for the sports club or project they believe most deserves the money.
Held at Middlesbrough’s Jury’s Inn, it was an occasion full of Boro, banter, sport, laughter and, most importantly, fundraising.
Sports clubs or projects that missed out this time should look out for another Sporting Golden Giveaway later in the year.
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Thanks also to Santander and our patrons Barclays (Middlesbrough) and their staff who attended the event and matched the funds raised.
Also benefiting were wheelchair basketball club, Tees Valley Titans, one of the many local groups we’ve supported in the past.
“Without a shadow of doubt it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”
Four Teesside sporting heroes starred as £7,500 was raised for our unique FAST Fund at our first ever sports dinner.
A big thank you to those who bought tables including SABIC, First Choice Labels, Cornerstone Business Solutions, Archers Law, Nicholson Transport, BWC Business Solutions, The Build Directory, Applied Integration, Cleveland Centre, PX Group, Fairfield Industries, Vintage Chartered Financial Planners, InBond, Teesside University and Carey’s.
The Philanthropic Foundation has received a £5,500 boost, thanks to the Co-op’s Local Community Fund and their many customers who support it.
£20,000 FOR SPORT-TEES
FIRST FOR SPORT
Money raised on the night will go towards our FAST Fund Financial Support for Sportspeople on Teesside (see page 12).
James Pennington (centre) of our patrons Viral Effect celebrates the £5,500 donation with staff at the Co-op at The Oval in Acklam.
Danielle Croce and Helen Stewart (both Calm Digital) at the Ladies’ Lunch.
BAND AID
Our thanks to brilliant Teesside band Cattle and Cane for supporting us whilst launching one of 2017’s best albums.
ROCK ON
Our thanks to Wolviston Group for dedicating their 2017 Winter Ball towards funding for the Philanthropic Foundation. The amazing efforts of Wolviston, their staff and guests raised a fantastic £4,500 that will be put to good use supporting Teesside charities, community groups and indivuduals in need.
Cattle and Cane donated 10% of all money raised from their crowdfunding campaign for their second album, ‘Mirrors’, to two charities close to their hearts. The cash will be shared between the Philanthropic Foundation and Boro’s own charity, MFC Foundation.
Big-hearted fundraisers at the ninth Big Tees Sleepout.
FUNDRAISERS WERE DREAMING
A massive “well done” to more than 30 locals who braved a night away from their own beds by sleeping out as part of the ninth Big Tees Sleepout. They helped us raise more than £5,000, taking us just short of £100,000 from our combined sleepout events. All of the funds raised will go towards supporting local food banks, homelessness charities and amazing Christmas appeals by the Salvation Army. Thanks to all those who took part – and also to Middlesbrough College who again provided us with a venue for this event. Will you take part in the next Big Tees Sleepout on November 10, 2017? For the first time, the event will take place at Ormesby Hall. Full details on www.bigteessidesleepout.co.uk
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OUR DONATIONS
TEESSIDE STROKE CLUB A £7,000 donation from the Foundation is helping stroke survivors regain their confidence through fitness sessions run by the volunteer-led Teesside Stroke Club.
LOCAL HOSPICES We recently shared a £10,000 donation between our four brilliant local hospices, which each take £2.5 million to £4 million a year to run. Our picture (right) shows representatives of our patrons Hunters Estate Agents, Erimus Insurance Brokers, PX Group and Carter Steel presenting cheques for £2,500 to each of the hospices. Laura Bashizadeh performed the honours on behalf of Hunters, Shaun Hughes represented Erimus, David Henderson was there for PX and David Carter was on hand for Carter Steel. Receiving the donations were Teesside Hospice, Alice House Hospice (Hartlepool), Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice and Butterwick Hospice.
The grant enabled the Stroke Club to replace ageing gym equipment with state-of-the-art movement therapy machinery that is already proving a major boon for the group’s 42 members, who meet at Middlesbrough Sports Village.
FIGHTING FOR TEESSIDE TOGETHER
“We are all on Cloud 9,” said the group’s chairman Ted Docherty, when asked what the grant had meant to the charity. “We can’t exist without support like this. We desperately needed new equipment – and we’ve been able to buy machines that are a huge help.”
In this special feature, we look at just a few of our recent donations to charities and community groups across Teesside
STREETWISE OPERA
With members of all ages, the Stroke Club members enjoy cookery demonstrations and plays carpet bowls, while their sports hall activities include sit to stand, assisted walking, balancing and chair-based exercises. Although there is currently a waiting list for membership, the club aims to increase its membership in the future.
We’re proud to support Streetwise Opera, an award-winning Teesside charity that uses music to help people make positive changes in their lives.
Stroke sufferers who would like to be added to the waiting list should ask their GP for a referral to Teesside Stroke Club.
Working with people who have experienced homelessness, Streetwise Opera run workshop programmes and stage critically-acclaimed operas. The Foundation and our sister charity, CEO Sleepout, donated £1,000 each to Streetwise Opera to allow them to launch a fun and inclusive singing and acting workshops at Linthorpe Road Methodist Church, in partnership with DePaul UK and Methodist Asylum Project. With our support, they were also able to run singing and acting workshop at mima.
Fellow volunteer Geoff McPherson, whose wife Yvonne suffered a stroke more than seven years ago, added: “Suffering a stroke is a life-changing experience and many people who come to us are terrified, but meeting and talking to others with similar challenges and fears can be a huge help.”
TAKE HEART Streetwise Opera in action within Middlesbrough Central Library.
Members of Take Heart tackle arthritis through exercise.
Take a look at these fantastic photographs (left) showing members of the charity Take Heart support group’s new exercise sessions for Teessiders with arthritic problems. A Foundation grant of £4,600 is giving dozens of Teesside arthritis sufferers an opportunity to improve mobility, support each other and increase social cohesion.
They have also put on a number of public performances – including impressive sessions at our Big Teesside Sleepout events.
Take Heart, who also provide exercise courses for those with heart problems, has been operating in Middlesbrough and the Redcar and Cleveland area for 27 years.
Creative activities such as these have significant impact on the mental and physical health, social networks and drug and alcohol recovery of these often vulnerable and socially excluded people.
This is a ground-breaking scheme for Teesside – and it’s already proving a big hit with participants!
Sue Theobald of our patrons Barclays (Middlesbrough) with members and volunteers of Teesside Stroke Club.
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The Foundation donated £4,600 to Take Heart.
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An anonymous benefactor donated £700,000 for the Philanthropic Foundation to share across Teesside. Here’s just two of the great ways we’re using this incredible funding boost to support Teessiders
CARAVAN OF LOVE BRINGS JOY FOR TEES FAMILIES The ‘Caravan of Love’ is bringing joy for some of Teesside’s least privileged children and their families with short breaks that would normally be beyond their financial reach.
OUR £100,000 GRANT FOR ‘KINSHIP’ FAMILIES
The Philanthropic Foundation is arranging breaks for some of the most disadvantaged local families after investing £35,000 in an eight-berth luxury caravan near Filey.
Up to 600 vulnerable Teesside children and their carers will benefit from a near £100,000 donation to charity Grandparents Plus.
The investment, which totals £46,000 when food, furnishings and transport costs are included, is the result of a £700,000 donation from an anonymous benefactor.
The donation of £99,838 easily represents the biggest ever single donation by the Philanthropic Foundation. Grandparents Plus supports grandparents and other family members who are caring for children in difficult family circumstances. Nearly 2,300 Teesside children are raised by family members - known as kinship carers - when their parents are unable to look after them. Children in kinship care have often experienced trauma, neglect and abuse whilst witnessing parental drug and alcohol misuse, imprisonment or death. The Foundation’s £100,000 donation will fund a three-year Grandparents Plus project to develop new approaches to support kinship carers in Teesside.
BIG MONEY DONATIONS Foundation patron Jayne Stephenson celebrates our purchase of a caravan where Teesside’s most vulnerable families can enjoy a rare break.
The Foundation is now working closely with local charities, community groups and schools to identify families who would most benefit from the facility. Mari Dilworth, of charity Grandparents Plus, said: “We’ve had families crying tears of joy when we’ve told them they can go on a short holiday that would otherwise have been beyond their means. “These are the most disadvantaged families, who’ve never had a break for years and the chances are they could never afford to go away. “They can’t believe there’s a local charity that cares about them enough to do this. Things like this really do change lives.”
Lucy Peake, chief executive of Grandparents Plus, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have received this donation.
A grandmother whose family were one of the first to benefit from the caravan said: “This was the best thing I’ve ever done and an experience we would have never been able to do ourselves. We will never forget that.”
“Becoming a kinship carer is something that could happen to anyone - often suddenly - and too many carers don’t know who they can turn to for help.
Andy Preston, the Philanthropic Foundation’s chairman, said: “We owe our patrons PX Group a big debt of gratitude for introducing us to the anonymous benefactor who has made this possible.”
“This donation will help us reach more people across Teesside, giving them and the children they’re caring for the support they need.”
Harriet Spalding (left) of Foundation patrons Mandale with Billingham’s Karen Doherty and husband Tommy plus grandchildren Lucy, Taylor and Corey.
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The Foundation’s Diane Williamson (right) signs the contract for the charity’s new caravan, watched by Daniel Dixon of Reighton Sands Caravan Park and patron Jayne Stephenson.
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LOCAL HEROES
Every month the Foundation presents Teesside Hero awards to unsung community champions - volunteers who go above and beyond the call of duty to help make our region an even better place to live and work. Each of them receives a trophy, a voucher for Mohujo’s restaurant and £1,000 to donate to a Teesside worthy cause of their choice.
Our patrons give the awards to our local heroes at surprise presentation events. Here’s a round-up of those from all backgrounds who have received awards in recent months.
CHAMPIONS OF CHARITY The incredible efforts of a Teesside family to keep alive the memory of their daughter Maisie resulted in a £5,000 boost to James Cook University Hospital’s neonatal unit. Since launching charity Maisie’s Hope in 2011, Acklam couple Leanne and Graham Nellis had already raised more than £50,000. The latest boost came after “amazing public support” saw Maisie’s Hope top a poll ahead of 14 other local charities, schools and community groups in the latest of our £20,000 Golden Giveaways. The cash boost will help them fund the decoration and interior for the parent flats within the hospital grounds. Maisie’s Hope are in our top picture with Emma Holborn of our patrons First Choice Labels. Also receiving a share of the £20,000 Golden Giveaway were:
TEESSIDE HERO
Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) – Shaun Hughes of Erimus Insurance Brokers presented £2,500 towards screening sessions for hundreds of young Teesside people to check for undetected heart conditions.
TEESSIDE HERO
MICK SUMPTER
JOHN DRYDEN
Presented by: David Henderson (PX Group) Background: Dedicates hours of his own time fundraising and supporting charities and community groups. Donated £1,000 to: £1,000 to The Haven young people’s counselling service in Hartlepool.
Presented by: Alisdair Beveridge (The Build Directory) Background: Has run Middlesbrough’s Wellington Amateur Boxing Club for 30 years, transforming the lives of hundreds of young boxers and creating dozens of champions. Donated £1,000 to: The Wellington Amateur Boxing Club
KTS Academy – Glyn Pemberton of Active Chartered Financial Planners presented £1,000 to help create a sensory garden for the Brotton-based special school. Bloodrun EVS – Bill Scott handed over a cheque for £2,000 towards renewing their fleet of bikes that volunteers use to transfer blood and other urgent deliveries between local hospitals at evenings and weekends. Middlesbrough Powerchair Football Club – Jamie Brown of Endeavour Partnership - £1,500 to purchase a new portable hoist to transfer players from their day chairs into one of the club’s specialist footballing chairs. Reagan Jack Rainbows – Glyn Pemberton presented £750 towards cooling systems known as “cuddle cots” and ”sleep tight” systems to help parents spend last precious moments with deceased children in their own home.
TEESSIDE HERO
TEESSIDE HERO
DEBBIE POWLAY
MARY LEE
Presented by: Emma Simkins (Henderson Insurance Brokers) Background: Voluntary work chairing Ladies of Steel community group that provides much-needed support in Dormanstown area devastated by the closure of the SSI steel plant. Donated £1,000 to: Ladies of Steel
Presented by: Andy Preston Background: Breast cancer survivor who inspired fellow survivors to take part in Teesside fashion shows raising £450,000. Donated £1,000 to: £1,000 to Celebration of Life After Cancer
West View Advice Centre – Trudi Chapman of Cool Blue Brand Communications presented £750 to subsidise the cost of complimentary cancer therapy treatments for people in Hartlepool. John Clayton Fundraiser – Kevin Hazeldine of InBond handed over £1,000 towards potentially life-saving defibrillators for sports and community facilities across Teesside. South Cleveland Heart Fund – Foundation supporter Cllr Ron Arundale presented £750 to continue supporting the world class cardiothoracic centre at James Cook University Hospital. Lakes United FC – Jayne Stephenson presented £750 to secure the Redcar football club’s existence for at least another year. SNAPS Tees Valley – Trudi Chapman presented £1,000 to provide support to families with children and young people with a disability, special, additional or complex needs.
TEESSIDE HERO
PAT MCBRIDE Presented by: David Carter (Carter Steel) Background: Last year was the 29th successive Christmas Pat has organised more than 5,000 hampers for local people living in poverty or short-term crisis. Donated £1,000 to: CAUSE Christmas Hamper Appeal
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TEESSIDE HERO
NEAL BULLOCK Presented by: Jayne Stephenson Background: Co-founder of Fat Lads on Bikes, raising £50,000 in two years for James Cook University Hospital’s cancer ward and other local charities. Donated £1,000 to: Teesside Family Foundation
TEESSIDE HERO
BERNIE SLAVEN Presented by: Paul Davison (Erimus Insurance Brokers) & Lee Bramley (Endeavour Partnership) Background: Former Boro star and radio personality who has used his high profile to raise £40,000 for the Multiple Sclerosis Society, £37,000 for the Gary Parkinson Trust and supported many other charities. Donated £1,000 to: Diabetes Ward, James Cook University Hospital
Middlesbrough Youth Theatre – Ken Devereux of Devereux Transport presented £1,500 to ensure MYT remains accessible to all, no matter what their social or financial background. Hugs for the Homeless – Paul Good handed over £500 towards new premises for a Middlesbrough charity that hands out food and supplies to local homeless. Caldicotes Primary School, Thorntree – Shaun Hughes presented £500 towards providing healthy lunches for disadvantaged families throughout the Summer holidays. Swerve Table Tennis Centre, Middlesbrough – Bill Scott presented £500 to help disadvantaged members with travel expenses and accommodation at tournaments.
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FAST TRACK
£2,000 recipient Amy Carr with Olympian Chris Tomlinson, a patron of the FAST Fund.
£11,000 grants to talented Tees sportspeople Among the latest recipients of grants from the Philanthropic Foundation’s FAST Fund are twins who are both judo champions, two track athletes, a pole vaulter, a hammer/javelin thrower, a swimmer, a boxer, a canoeist, a rugby player, a basketball player and a visually impaired tennis player. The FAST Fund – which stands for Financial Assistance for Sportspeople on Teesside – was set up by the Foundation to inspire locals who have the ability but not the finances to reach the very top in their chosen sport. Judo twins Rachel and Eve Jackson, from Thornaby Pavilion Judo Club, are in their third year as members of the England squad after the 14-year-olds finished last season as the British number 1 and 2 respectively in their age and weight category. They shared a FAST Fund grant of £2,000.
£1,500 was donated to pole vaulter Charlie Myers, from Marton, who finished fourth in the British Indoor Championships during his first season competing at senior level. The 19-year-old aims to qualify for the under-23 European Championships this season and challenge to reach the Commonwealth Games. Grant donations were also made to boxer William Howe, rugby player Innes Hill, runner Rebecca Tilley, hammer/ javelin thrower Daniel Nixon and Eve Ovington (canoe slalom). Grants were also awarded from the Philanthropic Foundation’s new Disability FAST Fund to basketball player Callum Taylor and visually impaired tennis player Rosine Pybus.
JOIN OUR FUNDRAISING ARMY Could you be a Teesside Centurion? The Foundaton is looking for people to join our fundraising army fighting for Teesside. We’re looking to add to our legion of Teessiders willing to donate £19 per month to help them carry out more charity work to inspire the local community, helping raise an additional £23,000 a year. The launch of the Foundation’s Teesside Centurions was inspired by Greg Atkinson, a professor at Teesside University’s school of health and social care, who became its first member. While Greg couldn’t afford the big donations some of the charity’s individual and corporate patrons make, he was determined to do his bit by putting his hand in his pocket on a regular basis.
Middlesbrough swimmer Perry Gardner, twice British 200m backstroke champion for his age-group and a 2016 Olympic trials qualifier, was one of two applicants to receive £2,000.
The idea of the Centurions is promoting donations not from leaders of industry but from those of us who are fortunate enough to earn a decent living.
Teenage sprinter Amy Carr, who has cerebral palsy, also received £2,000 after retaining her national junior title for 200m and rising to a ranking of sixth in the world in the T37 classification.
Foundation chairman Andy Preston said: “We’re looking for Teesside Centurions who are prepared to make a stand and fight the fight with us for this area.
Teesside Centurions, Cllrs Chris and John Hobson with Mandy Shields.
“Our established patron model involves wealthy individuals and companies being able to make a real impact by making large annual donations. “This is a way for those who aren’t in a position to write out a big cheque to make a small but significant donation each month and help make a real difference to our work here on Teesside.” Our pictures were taken at the recent Centurions brunch meeting at The Fork in the Road restaurant, run by our sister charity, CEO Sleepout. If you’d like to become a Teesside Centurion or have any questions, then get in touch with the Foundation at info@teessidecharity.org.uk Top: Charity chairman Andy Preston (front centre) at The Fork in the Road with some of the Teesside Centurions who donate £19 per month to the Philanthropic Foundation. Pole vault champion Charlie Myers received £1,500 from the FAST Fund.
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Judo twins Rachel and Eve Jackson shared a £2,000 FAST Fund grant.
Teesside Centurions Michael Gallagher, Nathan Platt and Cllr Ron Arundale.
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MEET OUR PATRONS
NIGEL WILLIS First Choice Labels
TANYA GARLAND Cool Blue
ALISDAIR BEVERIDGE
DAVID HENDERSON
ALASTAIR WAITE
JAMIE BROWN
KEN DEVEREUX
What does your organisation do? We operate and maintain some of the UK’s most high risk and hazardous industrial facilities. We operate across the energy spectrum including gas processing, thermal power, fuel storage and renewable energy. The group also has its own engineering division and energy trading platform.
Why do you support the Foundation? To give something back. I’ve been very lucky in life, while other people are less fortunate, so it’s the right thing to do. I make donations to some national charities too, but I don’t really know how that money is being spent. The fact that the Philanthropic Foundation is local and the money is staying here in TS postcodes means we can see the results of our endeavours.
What does your organisation do? We’re a commercial law firm. We aim to provide value, solutions and the best possible outcomes for our commercial clients.
What does your organisation do? We’re one of the UK’s leading transport and distribution businesses. Basically, we transport stuff, we distribute stuff, we move around small consignments for a variety of customers from a wide range of markets.
px Group
Why do you support the Foundation? The company’s roots are firmly placed in Teesside and we want to give something back to the people and communities that have helped us become successful. Which of our fundraising events has been your favourite? I have to say that last year’s Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge has to be my favourite up to now – not least because I completed it with my wife Denise and a close friend. Luckily I managed to keep all of my toenails but my mate lost all 10 of his after the walk! Not that I want to put anyone off from doing it in the future, as it was a great event with a real sense of accomplishment at the end. Which organisation are you most proud that we’ve supported? It’s difficult to pick one out of all the people that the charity tries to help. The reason I love the charity is its diversity and ability to help people that would otherwise struggle to find funding, helping to make a difference to all kinds of people across Teesside. Tell us something your fellow Foundation supporters might not know about you? I’m a bit of an adrenalin junkie and have tried everything from a backward bungie jump into the Mediterranean Sea to being in the slingshot at the top of the Stratosphere on the Las Vegas strip.
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Which of our fundraising events has been your favourite? I’ve got to name two. I took part in the first CEO Sleepout that the Foundation organised at the Riverside Stadium. Spending one night under the stars isn’t sufficient to understand the hardships that homeless people go through but it is a bit of a wakeup call. I love walking so I really enjoyed the Three Peaks Challenge last year, especially as it fell on my birthday. I have my own fast walking pace so I left my friends behind, but I have to say the last peak was bloody tough! Which cause are you most proud that we’ve supported? I think the one that really pulled at my heart-strings was the email several of us recently received from a lady who had spent a few days at our new caravan, through our work wth Grandparents Plus. It was such a heart-warming email to receive and reminded me why we do what we do. Tell us something your fellow Foundation supporters might not know about you personally? I was a punk in the late 1970s. I used to put sugar and water in my hair to make it stick up. I loved the Sex Pistols, The Damned, Angelic Upstarts and Sham 69 but probably my favourites were The Clash.
Endeavour Partnership
Why do you support the Foundation? The partners and majority of staff are all born and bred on Teesside – we’re proud of our area and want to share our success with fellow Teessiders. Which of our fundraising events has been your favourite? Well, several of us have taken part in CEO Sleepout. I took part in the first one that that the Foundation organised at the Riverside Stadium. It was made easier by the people we spent time with but I wouldn’t rush to do it again! It did make me appreciate how tough it must be on the street. Which organisation are you most proud that we’ve supported? The Endeavour Partnership recently raised £7,500 for the Prince’s Trust, which the Foundation then doubled, so that was fantastic. . Several of the firm’s partners have done the CEO Sleepout, while the staff also donated Christmas turkeys for the Moses Project in Stockton.I do like Grandparents Plus, too, because so many of us are entirely reliant on grandparents, regardless of where we are in society, and it’s fantastic to see an organisation supporting those from the hardest or most troubled of backgrounds. Tell us something your fellow Foundation supporters might not know about you personally? I am an obsessive Land Rover collector. I’ve got five at present, though only three of them are driveable. I love their unpredictability. We also have five chickens.
Devereux Transport and Distribution
Why does Devereux support the Foundation? Because it supports local worthy causes – with the emphasis on local. The philosophy of the Philanthropic Foundation is great – supporting people in need across Teesside. When you’re born in the North-East and operate a business here too, you get used to being knocked. Unlike the Foundation, if you give to many other charities you can’t be confident that the money will come back to the TS postcode area. Which of our fundraising events has been your favourite? I think it’s got to be the annual bash. It’s nice to be philanthropic but it’s nice to indulge yourself too. It’s always a fantastic event - apart from the year we had what were allegedly chicken parmos! Which organisation are you most proud that we’ve supported? I was really impressed with a place called The Shack in the Ragworth area of Stockton. It was all about local people - all volunteers - doing things like cookery courses and teaching young people how to look after themselves. It was heartwarming. Seeing things like that remind you that, despite what you might read in the local press, there are so many positive things going on across Teesside. Tell us something your fellow Foundation supporters might not know about you personally? I can’t possibly tell you that – it will have to remain a secret!
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