The club’s annual Foundation Fixture has raised a total of £54,464.99 to support Ipswich Town Foundation’s work in the community.

The fixture – Town’s 1-1 draw with Millwall on Saturday, 21 March – provided the Foundation with a crucial opportunity to raise awareness of the diverse programmes being carried out on a weekly basis, as well as funds to allow those programmes to continue to positively impact the lives of all generations in Ipswich and wider Suffolk.

The Foundation currently engages with around 9,000 young people and vulnerable adults on a weekly basis, with over 30 diverse and innovative programmes delivered to meet the needs of the local community.

Foundation Fixture saw those programmes and participants highlighted at Portman Road throughout the day, most noticeably through the half time pitch walk, which saw one participant from each of those programmes given an opportunity to walk around the pitch, supported brilliantly by both sets of supporters on the day.

Additionally, Foundation staff and volunteers were located around the stadium ahead of kick off, engaging with supporters, providing information on the support the Foundation offers, and collecting donations.

The club, as always, provided their support, donating £1 from each matchday programme, £1 from each home match ticket, and £1 from each pint sold, as well as a contribution from the FanZone vendors.

This year, the Foundation was delighted to work alongside local artist Louise Cobbold, who produced an incredible piece of artwork for the programme front cover, which captures the range and diversity of the Foundation’s programmes excellently.

Further to this, the Foundation teamed up with fan-led group Call Me Ted and local businessman and Town supporter Richard Buss to produce a bespoke, limited edition pre-match warm-up shirt, designed to celebrate the community the Foundation serves and to start conversations amongst supporters on the Foundation and its work. The shirts were made available through a Crowdfunder campaign, with those donations contributing to the overall total raised.

Each year, Foundation Fixture highlights the strength of the Suffolk business community. More businesses than ever pledged their support through several creative initiatives. The Foundation wishes to place on record its thanks to the businesses below for their support:

• Attwells Solicitors held a “Wear Blue Day” in their office.
• Arcade Tavern hosted a quiz night on Friday, and ran a beer donation on the day.
• Bar TwentyOne donated 25p per pint sold on the day.
• Big Match Framing provided free framing for a select number of items in the Silent Auction on the day.
• Birketts held a “Wear Blue Day” and a raffle in their office.
• Briarbank donated 50p per burger sold on the day.
• Ryan Jarrett, an employee at CFS East Anglia, competed in a charity boxing event for the Foundation.
• The Forge Kitchen donated a two-course meal for 4 people, which was won through a competition on the day.
• The Greyhound donated 50p per pint and 25p per dish from the football menu on the day.
• Honey+Harvey donated £5 per burger sold on the day, £1 per coffee across the weekend.
• Isaac’s On the Quay donated 50p per burger sold on the day.
• Millwall Community Trust donated a signed shirt for the Silent Auction on the day.
• MS Surveys donated £15 per survey in the week of Foundation Fixture.
• Park View Care Home hosted a raffle over the Easter weekend.
• Salhab 360 provided a 360 camera for the FanZone on the day.
• S&P UK Ventilation Systems donated 1% of all sales across this week.
• Sportsrooms donated a table of six in Hall of Fame to Foundation participants, let them choose Man of the Match, and collect Match Sponsor rewards at full time.
• The Spread Eagle donated all proceeds from their weekly quiz.
• The Thomas Wolsey hosted a raffle to raise funds for the Foundation.
• Total Football provided a £250 contribution towards shirt printing for the pre-match warm up shirts.

“Foundation Fixture was once again a fantastic occasion that showcased the work we’re carrying out in the community,” said Dan Palfrey, Director of Foundation. “The final total is exceptional, and the funds raised will go a long way in making positive change to the lives of people in Ipswich and wider Suffolk.”

“The Foundation has continued to make progress over the past twelve months, with the half time pitch walk demonstrating the ever increasing areas of the community that we’re supporting.

“A heartfelt thank you to the club, the local businesses who fundraised for us, Call Me Ted, and everyone who donated and supported us on the day or in the subsequent Crowdfunders for the warm-up tops and matchworn shirts.”

Ipswich Town Foundation would like to place on record its sincerest thanks to Ipswich Town Football Club, its staff, players, and supporters, as well as to all businesses for their ongoing support.

To find out more about the Foundation’s work, visit itfcfoundation.co.uk.