COMMUNITY CALL TO 'WIN A BORO STAR!'
Middlesbrough Football Club, 20 Jan 2010
Local charities and schools have the chance to 'win' a Middlesbrough player' through an exciting new community scheme.
'Community Champions' will see three Boro stars make personal appearances to help local charities and good causes raise awareness of their projects and create fundraising opportunities.
Under a motto of 'The heart of the community', Boro are renowned for their charitable work.
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Boro stars made more than 400 community appearances last season, while the club's community project is recognised as one of the biggest and best in the country.
Now any charity, community programme or school can apply for a Boro star to highlight their work between Monday March 1 and Friday April 30.
Boro promise that the most innovative ideas for community events - particularly activities that will make great shots for TV cameras and press photographers - will have the best chance of winning.
Three winning applications - including one school - will not only get a member of Gordon Strachan's first team squad for a publicity event but will also receive a Boro shirt signed by the Boro players and 10 tickets for a first team game at the Riverside.
Three runners-up will also receive a signed shirt for their charity or good cause.
Diane O'Connell, Boro's Supporter Services Officer, said: "This is a unique opportunity for local charities to gain some fantastic publicity.
"We regularly work with organisations such as Teesside Hospice and Butterwick Children's Hospice, while last year we paid visits to Middlesbrough's Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre and Billingham-based Community Integrated Care.
"But we'd love to hear from community or charity groups that we haven't previously worked with. We will pick out those who come up with the most innovative way to utilise a Boro player."
'Community Champions' is Boro's own scheme that follows up a Premier League scheme called 'Creating Chances'.
Organisations that wish to read about previous 'Creating Chances' winners to inspire their own application should visit the club website at www.mfc.co.uk and click 'Club' then 'Creating Chances'.
But the message is clear - don't delay. The deadline for applications is Wednesday February 17.
Application forms are available by emailing diane.o'connell@mfc.co.uk or by calling the club on 01642 757655.
