The Everard Family Foundation are donating £50,000 to Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland.
Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland is a local cause that the Everard family have a long history of supporting, with Richard Everard being their president since 1992 and donating regularly over the years.
The donation will directly support older people in the local community who find themselves in greater need during the Coronavirus crisis.
Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland is an independent local charity and the current Coronavirus crisis has meant that they need to offer even more support to continue their mission of helping older people live happier, active, fulfilled and socially-engaged lives.
Speaking to the Everards website, Tony Donovan, Executive Director of Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland commented, “We are hugely grateful to the Everard Family Foundation for their donation at this challenging time.
“Richard Everard understands the importance of our charity through our longstanding relationship and has regularly supported us with both time and donations. We are very concerned about the impact on those who were already struggling with loneliness and mental health as a lot of older people find themselves isolated.
“We’ve been continuing to provide many services including befriending calls, collecting essentials such as food and prescriptions, and getting people to their hospital appointments. This funding will go towards delivering this and other essential support.
“The charity works in communities around the City, County and Rutland. They are dependent on local support to keep serving the community and are supported by donations from the public, legacies, corporate partnerships, income from their charity shops, and charitable grants from trusts and foundations. Support now is more vital than ever while their shops are closed and many fundraising events cancelled.
“The Everard family have always supported local causes and in 1979 they established The Everard Family Foundation as a trust to bring together their community and charity work. As well as offering time to support the community in numerous roles on charity boards and committees, the family regular donates to causes close to their heart including Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland, Warning Zone, Leicestershire Cares and ProstAid.
“Over the last 31 years, the Everard Family Foundation has donated over £2.4 million to many local causes. Richard Everard shared, “I admire the work done by Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland and have been delighted to support them for many years. Ensuring that the older people in our community are well looked after is a mission close to my heart and this current crisis brings many additional challenges. Therefore, after speaking to Tony Donavan, the family were unanimous that we should make a donation to help them to maintain their crucial support.”
Their coronavirus helpline is 0116 2992239 open seven days a week between 9am and 5pm on weekdays and 10am to 4pm at weekends.