Tremendous success worth the maximum amount of donations

BTV REPORT

On Tuesday, March 12, Ajuda de Berço, Operação Nariz Vermelho and Associação Salvador received checks worth 5000 euros under the solidarity initiative activated by the Benfica Foundation and Hospital da Luz during the Benfica-Gil Vicente game, on matchday 20 of the Liga Betclic.

The challenge consisted of turning a "like" and a comment with the phrase "I Help" on the official Hospital da Luz account into donations of 1 and 2 euros, respectively, and the Benfica fans responded in force during the 90 minutes of the match, helping to reach the maximum amount of 5000 euros for each of the three institutions.

At the check presentation ceremony, Carlos Moia, executive president of the Benfica Foundation, praised the tremendous success of the initiative. "It's a project that we thought up a long time ago with Hospital da Luz, and it went very well. Everyone is to be congratulated, and we managed to help three institutions that have been working with the Foundation," he said, speaking to BTV.

On the part of Hospital da Luz, the Match Day Sponsor (MDS) of the Benfica-Gil Vicente match, played on February 4, executive director Pedro Patrício praised the strong support of Benfica fans for the initiative. "We're proud to be committed to sports medicine and solidarity. It was an operation to which the Benfica fans adhered in an extraordinary way," said Pedro Patrício, whose words were echoed by Pedro Líbano Monteiro, administrator of Hospital da Luz: "It was impressive how easily and quickly they joined the challenge. When we have these ideas, and they come to fruition with support for the associations, it's the best thing there is."

The three charities that received the donations praised the importance of the donations for their projects, thanking the Glorioso fans for their support in messages to BTV.

STATEMENTS

Anabela Possidónio (Associação Nariz Vermelho): "The amount represents 1000 smiles. We can take two pairs of clowns to hospitals to meet 1000 different children, which is very important to us. These 5000 euros will help us bring joy to all of them."

Alexandra Anastácio (Ajuda de Berço): "It's a special amount, especially because it comes from Benfica fans, because Ajuda de Berço is heavily Benfica. Receiving 5000 euros at a time of crisis is essential for our sustainability. We have 35 children in residential care, and we need to pay a lot of bills. Everything is perfect."

Mariana Lopes da Costa (Associação Salvador): "It was a 90-minute initiative that generated a great deal of support from Benfica fans and friends of the association. The donation is very important, and we're going to use it for adapted sport, a project we've been developing since 2009. It will enable our athletes to take part in para-cycling and adapted sailing competitions."