Preston North End has been named as a finalist in the Sports Business Awards' Coronavirus Innovation Award: Compassion category!
The nomination is for the club and the Community and Education Trust's work to connect with supporters through a variety of essential and innovative initiatives in response to the Coronavirus pandemic.
The club and the Trust have provided an essential food service for vulnerable members of the community, including supporters and participants on community programmes, through the PNECET Helping Hampers initiative.
Both essential and engaging materials were included in hampers, with more than 1,300 being delivered to those most in need in and around Preston – 400 of which were for season ticket holders and 300 for participants on community programmes.
Those were partly funded by thousands of pounds’ worth of donations from the club’s first team squad who also helped to promote the initiative on social media, while owner's representative Peter Ridsdale supported the initiative by packing and delivering hampers.
Club-relevant materials were also provided for supporters, with matchday programmes courtesy of the club and PNE-themed books generously donated by local authors included within the hampers.
Meanwhile, the club’s virtual Gentry Day celebrations were an overwhelming success, as more than 60 elderly supporters received welfare phone calls from current and former players and staff members during the unprecedented time of need.
A full list of organisations named as finalists in the Coronavirus Innovation Award: Compassion category can be found below.
- Everton Football Club and Everton in the Community
- Bristol Rovers Football Club
- ITTF Foundation
- Manchester City FC
- Manchester United FC and Manchester United Foundation
- Norwich City Football Club and Community Sports Foundation Covid-19 Committee
- Preston North End
- Queens Park Rangers FC
- Saints Foundation
In light of the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, a virtual awards ceremony is being planned to announce the winners on Wednesday 16th December from 3pm.
You can find out more about the Sports Business Awards by visiting their website here.