Arsenal breaks record for Charity of the Season

Arsenal Football Club celebrated a fundraising bonanza at its annual charity ball in aid of the Club’s Charity of the Season, TreeHouse, the national charity for autism education and the Arsenal Charitable Trust on Thursday 8 May 2008.

“The Ambition Ball” hosted by Clive Anderson and attended by the first team squad, Arsène Wenger and Arsenal-supporting celebrities raised over £280,000 through unique auction lots and generous pledges from guests throughout the evening.

Auction highlights included a portrait of Arsène Wenger by Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood, with the opportunity to attend the sitting, fetching £16,000 and a chance for five friends to take on Cesc Fabregas in an Xbox tournament at Emirates Stadium raising an impressive £8,000.  The Arsenal Opus, a unique purchase that was signed by the whole Arsenal First team was auctioned for a remarkable £7,000.

Arsenal Manager, Arsène Wenger said: “We’re very proud to have been able to raise this money for TreeHouse. To hold such a fantastic event and break our previous fundraising record is truly wonderful. A big thank you must go out to the organisers and, of course to the generous guests who attended the ball”.

The Ambition Ball is the spectacular finale of the Club’s Charity of the Season partnership with TreeHouse. The event has helped the Club to smash its bid to hit a £250,000 target during the season-long partnership; the figure required to build much needed sports facilities at TreeHouse’s new National Centre for Autism Education currently under construction.