After last week’s Celtic Foundation bucket collection at Celtic Park, my 12-year-old, who was collecting, was amazed that someone put a £20 note in his bucket. He wanted to know why people do things like that.
There are lots of possible reasons. It’s the right thing to do, there are many in our community who are need, and who we would happily help if they were standing beside us. A lot has to do with upbringing, not everyone believes fraternal help services the common good, but for some, it’s part of their core values. More precisely, it’s part of the values they acquired when they took to do with their football club.
In the early decades of Celtic Football Club, people literally ‘clubbed’ together to build the first, and then second, Celtic Park, mostly without pay. An informal collection of labourers dug foundations and shovelled earth to create bankings. Many got involved years after Walfrid left for pastures news, but the way in which the community claimed ownership of the club, without actually owning a share, of course, gave you and me an enormously privileged heritage.
We have a back narrative which most 21st century organisations could never dream of attaining.
I know that £20 is a lot of money to put into a bucket, but this year I’ve seen many people do this, and so much more, in the name of Celtic.
A year ago the CQN community told Mary’s Meals that we would build a school kitchen for them in Malawi. We booked the Kerrydale Suite for CQ10 and hoped we could sell more than 30 tickets. The night was sold-out and you raised over £23,000. Before the night was finished the two guys from Mary’s Meals knew they had enough money to build three school kitchens!
The money was soon put to action, all three kitchens were completed by May. Each day over 2000 primary-age children eat what is often their only meal of the day in a facility you paid for, prepared with utensils you bought.
The UN reckon Malawi is the 17th poorest country on the planet, but it is fertile for development work. 93% of the money raised by Mary’s Meals reaches the target communities. The kids being fed in CQN kitchens for the last 7 months are heavier and healthier than before. School attendance has increased by over 30%, so kids who previously had to labour for food are now getting an education instead.
They will have better life-choices as adults and more of them will be alive long enough to become adults.
The CQNers who started our charity activities nearly a decade ago are the golfers, they did so again in July, then there was the runners, the badge collectors and the many who were just touched by one story or another and stepped forward.
One of the reasons many of you should be proud of yourself is the Kano Foundation. Kano – Martin Kane – was one of the original CQNers, who got up in the middle of the night in Perth W. Australia to watch his team, and argue with his pals on here. When he suffered an enormously debilitating illness a community grew up around him, which became the Kano Foundation, and has since brought thousands of kids to see Celtic.
This week we learned Kano is seriously ill in hospital, so the seasonal cheer is tempered.
Whatever your memories of 2014 are, they will also be tempered by the challenges Wee Oscar and his family went through. I know there are people who made an enormous difference to his life who first read about him here. The stories of the work they put in will never be told, because that’s the way they want it, but they made a profound impact on the world.
2015 has a hard act to follow, but we’ve told Mary’s Meals we’ll build them another school kitchen, and we’ve just told Celtic to book the Kerrydale Suite for Friday 13th March for CQ11. It’s St Patrick’s weekend, it’s League Cup Final weekend and it’s the week of the 50th anniversary of Jock Stein taking over; it has the making of a memorable night…..
Why do people put £20 into a bucket, why do thousands give anonymously throughout the year, why do hundreds go above and beyond the call of duty? If you think Celtic is a football club, you’ve not been paying attention. It is the most powerful social movement most of us will ever become involved with.
It’s an absolute pleasure to be part of the family and humbling to see it in action.
Have a great Christmas, you deserve it.
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YEs
HAIL HAIL
Hail hail
Merry Xmas – COYBIG
Ronny out
Fantastic work
Stewart Regan:Scottish FA will issue a statement via at 1pm following the Board to Board meeting with #Rankers FC yesterday.
HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPY Birthday
Cowiebhoy and yer Maw too
If I’m wrong just ignore my ramblings :))))))
Top 10 will do………………..
I’m Proud to be a member of the Celtic family
Hail Hail & KTF
Merry Christmas
Paul67. Great pictures fella and we truly have a great support.H.H.
Merry Christmas to cqn..
Busy day ahead so hope everyone has a great time..
Candles will be lit tonight for Kano and the lady mentioned earlier a brother and all who are in need of our prayers.
Also candles lit for our dear departed..
If you know anyone who maybe alone over the period a wee phone call would be appreciated I’m sure..
God Bless And KTF.
Well done CQN – and well done Paul for creating the platform that all of these achievements are built upon.
Leftclitic.Merry Christmas to you and your family and friends.H.H.
joe filippis haircut
You can never rule that out some one may have some thing to hide, my point is AGAIN, has anyone got proof? Other than that it’s just supposition, but people are stating its a fact, you can’t do that, one guy on here has an envelope with proof that they where involved in some thing, well? Wtf get it out lets see it and stop playing silly games.
Fantastic effort guys.
Great to see the pics. It’s amazing that people who have the least give the most.
Humbling stuff!
God bless, take care over the festive period.
We might not be brilliant at football but we are without doubt world class when it comes to charitable work. Congratulaions all round! HH
Gordon j @1254
Couldn’t have put it better myself.
HH!!
Brilliant article Paul and of course there’s another wee project that CRC has modestly (as always) been pushing. So a timely reminder….
A new LAST MAN STANDING competition will kick off early in the new year.
As before the cost to enter will be £10 with half of this going to support Wee Shay. There will be a new feature in the upcoming competition whereby if you get knocked out in any of the first 3 rounds, you will be able to buy another life…but each time it will cost you a further £10.
To register your interest, please drop us an email to the usual address – cqnpredictor@gmail.com . Payment details will be provided in due course.
A big thank you in anticipation of your continued support.
Jobo/Celticrollercoaster
An inspirational blog. Merry Christmas to all.
Aqua Al
Keepthehighballslow. It is just like the wee widows mite that Jesus talks of in the Bible.H.H.
Tip my cap to CQN , well done guys a great cause.
Well done Paul
You created a wonderful site, and for all the squabbles, feuds, and nonsense we read, they are dwarfed by the positivity that the site provides, both in it’s Celtic debate, and the charitable work, …………..not to mention the laughing at Sevco, ……..sorry did I mention laughing at Sevco.
Thanks Paul, more than a club indeed.
What news could our devious friends at the sfa want to release on Christmas eve?
Is Christmas Eve a good day to release bad news or am I just being cynical?
Bad news for who is another matter
Inter .
——-Rai radio fitba news 1pm -24 12 14
Radio pundit -” Mancini – do you think there will some nice things under your tree ? ”
Mancini -” – I hope so, the Company has told me I will get what I need “.
Media in hyperdrive re who ——- Aaron Lennon / Lamela / Lavezzi / Perisic / Lucas Leiva / Etienne Capoue .Speculation is 3 at most.
tondonnelly. I dont have proof but if its hairy like a dog and it barks like a dog and wags its tail like a dog its safe to assume its a dog. H.H.
Grant Russell @STVGrant 25s25 seconds ago
Scottish FA have refused Mike Ashley permission to increase shareholding in Rangers to maximum 29.9%.
tonydonnelly67
11:22 on 24 December, 2014
I see the riot club have arrived.
_________________________
Ah, were did the ‘riot club’ go?
Ye know what…the ‘riot club’ were the only ones who seen to it that the huns were dealt true justice on the pitch at Hampden 1980.
The most prolific example of hun skelping since the Mr Stein era – surely?
The Mr Stein era
The Mr McNeill era
The Mr Hay era
The Wim & Murdo hunskelping season(in spite of Fergus)
The Dr Jozef and Lubo year – 5-1 what a day
The Martin O’Neill & Henrik years
Neil’s 1st season
WGS isny getting a mention coz….joost coz
Happy Hoopy Days
I’ve never liked Hearts FC going away back to when I used to go up there to Tynecastle in the early 70′s as a wee bhoy with my green & white hooped crash helmet on and the Hearts fans used to throw tatties wi razor-blades in them aye, they were a bad lot so they were but, I admire the structure that they’ve put in place in the football management side of things.
If Santa’s lurking I’d like a similar structure at CP…along the lines of…
Anne Budge – Jeanette Findlay
Craig Levein – big Mark McGhee
Robbie Neilson – Willie McStay
Nae DD, PL or the ‘bored’ just fans like Jeanette Findlay who – eat, sleep and breathe Celtic Football Club and would fight their cause till their last breath not – take yer money then lock you out – that has to stop – only you can – will you?
Or, will ye wait till the cheating mibbery assisted huns come back – by hook or by crook – and put ye in yer place again Timmy?
If yer still lurking Santa – please bring a new Jungle on the back of yer sleigh.
Please Tims – wisen-up and don’t be fooled by the ‘boreds’ carefully planted lackeys who’ll spin you smoke-screen after, smoke-screen about a load of hun p#sh just to take ye off the scent of the ‘looting’ thats going on in the Celtic ‘bored’ room.
It’s your money – were is it?
It’s your club – go get it.
Paul 67 and family….Legends, just Legends.
Merry Christmas – Off oot – bye.
Collecting for the Dam 5.
I to was amazed to see the Notes fill my bucket
Yes…. A CLUB LIKE NO OTHER
Happy Christmas and Great NewYear to all.
HH
Scottish FA Statement: Rangers Football Club
Wednesday, 24 December 2014
The Scottish FA Board convened on Tuesday, 23rd December to hear a submission from the Board of Rangers Football Club. This meeting was arranged in respect of a request set out in an Application to Consent to an increase in MASH Holdings Limited’s shareholding in Rangers International Football Club to a maximum of 29.9% of the issued share capital.
The Board has now carefully considered the Application and has decided, unanimously, that the Application should not be granted.
The Board, under Article 13 of the Scottish FA Articles of Association, is required to have due regard to the need to promote and safeguard the interests and public profile of association football, its players, spectators and others involved with the game. This test is set out in full in Article 13.6
Scottish FA have refused Mike Ashley permission to increase shareholding in Rangers to maximum 29.9%. More soon: http://t.co/OQq3tC2ZP0
http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_fa_news.cfm?page=2565&newsCategoryID=3&newsID=14129
Scottish FA Statement: Rangers Football Club
Wednesday, 24 December 2014
The Scottish FA Board convened on Tuesday, 23rd December to hear a submission from the Board of Rangers Football Club. This meeting was arranged in respect of a request set out in an Application to Consent to an increase in MASH Holdings Limited’s shareholding in Rangers International Football Club to a maximum of 29.9% of the issued share capital.
The Board has now carefully considered the Application and has decided, unanimously, that the Application should not be granted.
The Board, under Article 13 of the Scottish FA Articles of Association, is required to have due regard to the need to promote and safeguard the interests and public profile of association football, its players, spectators and others involved with the game. This test is set out in full in Article 13.6.
amid all the tormenting , arguing, bluff and bluster, disagreement ,and flouncing, behind all that,
the actual bedrock of this celtic family is this thread of constant charity.
I never experience it from individuals in a self promoting way, but instead I find humble and honest endevours and stories. The people who support Celtic, I remain in awe of so many. What you do, how you do it, what you keep on acheiving, its just so life confirmingly goodness.
If you could bottle the Celtic ethos, and call it the Celtic spirit, it would be the elexir of life.
At the bucket collection, at the corner of the celtic end and the jungle, just beyond the gates there were 2 girls, a couple of mums and a guy collecting. the weeist lassie could hardly hold the bucket up it was so full. she was loving it.
The football is the vehicle, the name of celtic lights up the world.
Who are these people ? who are they ?
They are the celtic supporters, in words and deeds , heros.
keep it lit.
butsybhoy. All the very best to you and your family and friends. H.H.
Merry Christmas to Paul, his family and to all of the bampots.
Memorial service on BBC News
DAVE KING packs his toothbrush.