On Thursday, October 31st, We Love MCR Charity hosted our 3rd annual Fundraising Dinner at Manchester’s iconic Midland Hotel, bringing together 450 guests and raising an incredible £103,865 to support communities and young people across Manchester.
The evening was a true celebration of the extensive work we do to empower positive futures for our unbeatable communities and ambitious young people across the city, but also a celebration of Manchester itself - as a place to live, work and grow up in.
Nobody illustrated that better than our keynote speaker Ferran Soriano in his comprehensive presentation exploring the identity and values that have ran through Manchester's story from past to present, and how they align with his experience at City Football Group with Manchester City's recent successes and the mentality needed to achieve them. We felt privileged to be in the room to hear it!
We were also thrilled to have a special appearance from fashion designer Sam Makonam, who took the stage alongside our Grants Manager, Marie, to share his journey. Sam, who has benefitted from our Manchester’s Rising Stars Fund, spoke passionately about how We Love MCR Charity's support has transformed his career. To add a personal touch, Marie proudly wore a dress Sam designed, showcasing the real impact our Rising Stars Fund has on young Mancunians’ futures.
A highlight of the night was the exclusive premiere of our new brand video, offering a never-before-seen look into our work across Manchester. The video featured interviews with community partners, young people, and local groups who have been supported by We Love MCR Charity, giving guests a firsthand view of how their contributions make a difference.
For the first time, we held a silent auction filled with fantastic prizes, including sold-out VIP tickets to the highly anticipated Oasis reunion concert and hospitality experiences at the Manchester City Tunnel Club, courtesy of SJM Concerts and Manchester City. The auction was a huge success, adding significantly to our fundraising total and giving guests the chance to win unique experiences.
The Lord Mayor in his introductory speech honoured the memory of our friend and first-ever Ambassador, Sir Howard Bernstein, whose legacy and vision helped shape both our charity and the city itself. His support established our Manchester’s Rising Stars Fund, which has already changed the lives of nearly 300 young Mancunians, inspiring us to continue our work with his enduring values in mind.
We extend heartfelt thanks to our Trustee Aneel Mussarat, who made this event possible, and to our Keynote and Gold Sponsors, MCR Property Group and Together, whose support played a crucial role in the evening’s success. Without the brilliant fundraising by individuals and companies from across the North West, we simply could not continue to improve lives and opportunities for some of the most disadvantaged Mancunians and our communities.
Until the next time!
If you wish to attend future exclusive We Love MCR Charity events, view our partnerships page here and get in touch with us!
EVENT GALLERY:
For those who joined us, we’ve got a selection of images from the evening below for you to relive the highlights and memories, and a full 300+ photo gallery link for you to browse and download here.
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