Club Brugge Foundation celebrates 15th anniversary

Club Brugge Foundation, Club's social department, is celebrating its 15th anniversary this season. During the Club Brugge - KV Mechelen match last Sunday, April 10, this was celebrated extensively.

ALMOST THOPE

In 2007, under the impetus of then Club president Michel D'Hooghe, a social department was established within the soccer club. This community project was given the project name "Allemoale Thope," which highlighted the collaborative power of soccer and society. With the creation of a separate soccer team for children with autism - 'the Soccer Craks' - the very first community project at blue-black saw the light of day in 2007. Over the years, the number of social projects in which Club Brugge uses the enormous power and impact of soccer to help thousands of people from various disadvantaged groups move forward each year grew.

What was founded in 2007 on the enthusiasm of a few volunteers has grown into a powerful and professional Foundation operation that carries out more than 18 of its own Foundation projects each season, supports more than 300 external charities, can count on the cooperation of more than 120 volunteers and project staff members, and reaches more than 5,000 participants each year.

To appropriately celebrate the 15th anniversary of Club Brugge Foundation, this anniversary was celebrated extensively during the last match of the regular competition against KV Mechelen.

"PROUD AS PRESIDENT OF CLUB BRUGGE"

Club Brugge Foundation invited about 100 project partners, employees, authorities, NPO members and sponsors last Sunday to toast its fifteenth anniversary together. "It makes me as Club President particularly proud to celebrate this anniversary with you. With the entire Club Board and management, we believe hard in the added value soccer can bring to society. We take on this responsibility with great passion and commitment to society with our Foundation in a structural and professional manner. Something that is still too often underexposed by the outside world. We are proud that our Foundation has already won several awards for their good work. Thanks to the support and commitment of many within the Club family, we will undoubtedly continue to do so in the future."

"OPERATION HAS GROWN ENORMOUSLY"

Honorary Director of Club Brugge and Chairman of the 'Foundation Steering Committee' Chris Caestecker, as one of the founders of the Foundation operation, also addressed the invitees: "I was there myself 15 years ago when, under the impetus of then Chairman Michel D'Hooghe, the first community project at Club was established. Together with volunteers Philippe Servais, Danny Wille and Richard Neirynck, "Allemoale Thope" was baptized, West Flemish for: all together. A perfect articulation of what we want to achieve.

Strong together, a win-win for soccer and society, strengthening each other, as an open club, as part of one big Club family. We still pursue this thought today, 15 years later, with Club Brugge Foundation.

When you see how our Foundation has grown over the past 15 years we can only be proud of this. This the result of a strong social conviction from the Club Board in which we have been able to work with Foundation over the years and in which we have always been able to experience the necessary support and recognition. For which thanks."

AMBITIOUS FOR THE FUTURE

Head of Foundation Peter Gheysen spoke last to the invitees about Club Brugge Foundation's ambitions for the future:

"We are very proud of what we have achieved over the past years on a social level, but we also have an eye on what the future has to offer us. Not only our Foundation operation has grown and evolved these past 15 years. The Club Brugge soccer club and, by extension, the entire soccer world in 2022 cannot be compared to how it looked in 2007. The social needs in society keep changing. That is why we, as an organization that aims to propagate the soccer club's corporate social responsibility, must evolve with it and ensure that our actions remain relevant at all times.

Club Brugge faces many challenges in the coming years. We want to continue to assert ourselves as a sustainable top club by being and remaining the reference in Belgium both on and off the field, also in the social field. We also want to continue putting our foot down on the European stage. In terms of infrastructure, with the plans for the new soccer stadium, there are not only many opportunities for growth in sporting and economic terms, but also with our Foundation there are many trump cards to be won in terms of accessibility, sustainability, ecology, modern techniques, but also a further anchoring of the stadium in society, so that our soccer stadium is more than just a composition of concrete, stone and glass, but can be a real home and meeting place for fans and local residents.

To shape this future vision, all stakeholders will soon be asked to help think about the future of our Foundation, so that together, Allemoale Thope, we can roll out a strongly anchored and widely supported new policy plan for Club Brugge Foundation."

LAP OF HONOR WITH 150 FOUNDATION PARTICIPANTS

Before the match against KV Mechelen, 150 volunteers and participants from various Foundation projects walked a lap of honor around the main field of the Jan Breydel Stadium. Together with the supporters in the North Stand, they posed for a unique group photo.

"It is a unique experience to be able to experience this once, and even more so with my friends from our walking soccer team. As a Club supporter, this is a moment to never forget," said walking soccer player Daniel.

BID ON THE UNIQUE MATCH SHIRTS

During the Club Brugge - KV Mechelen match, the Club players played with unique Heritage match shirts that were fitted with an extra badge for the occasion in honor of the 15th anniversary of Club Brugge Foundation.

These unique match shirts were donated by Shirt Partner Unibet and auctioned off to benefit the various social projects and charities of Club Brugge Foundation. Always wanted a matchworn and signed match shirt of your favorite Club player? Bid from now until Saturday, April 16, 4 p.m. on the shirt of your favorite player!

The unique match shirts will be auctioned via this website.