04.06.09: Private equity clubs together

On 3 June 2009, leading venture philanthropy fund, the Private Equity Foundation (PEF), kicked off its inaugural PEF Championship Football Tournament at the David Beckham Academy, London. Twenty teams drawn from the private equity world, as well as young people from PEF portfolio charity, Vital Regeneration, competed to raise £32,000 to help more disadvantaged children and young people.

Sudden death penalties ruled the day in the closely contested Cup competition. In the semi-finals, FC Bridgepoint dispatched early favourites, young people team, Vital Vipers, taking advantage of 'ringer' Ray Parlour's temporary absence from the pitch. However, despite FC Bridgepoint's earlier success at the penalty spot, CGSH United (Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP) were to prove the better team at finding the back of the net in the final to emerge worthy winners. Captain Andrew Tingle commented “It was a great evening and for an excellent cause, and despite the heat the guys worked hard to put on an entertaining final.” In the Plate competition, BVCA FC was delighted to beat Apax Athletic FC 3-1 in the semi-finals, with key player Nathan Williams commenting "That was the one game we were up for. Apax was the scalp we really wanted!" They went on to beat TowerBrook 2-1 in the final. Shaks Ghosh, Chief Executive of PEF, said "We'd like to say a big thank you to all the teams who took part in our first PEF Championship Football Tournament and who made it such a great success. Congratulations to CGSH United and BVCA FC! However, the real winners from the evening are the disadvantaged children and young people at the charities PEF supports who will benefit from the money raised." This is a difficult time for youth charities who are having to cope with increased demand for their services on reduced funding. In May, there were 450,000 under 25s claiming benefit and yet currently donations to animal welfare charities are five times more than those to charities supporting young people. The contribution made by the private equity community through PEF is absolutely vital if we're not to lose a whole generation of potential." Angela McConville, Chief Executive of Vital Regeneration, added “Vital Regeneration were delighted to be able to take part in PEF’s Championship Football Tournament and would like to thank all the private equity firms who took part and raised money to help children and young people through the event. We were very proud of the team spirit showed by all our young people and they told us they had a wonderful evening.” For further information please contact Rosie Davey at rosie@privateequityfoundation.org or call 020 7749 5129 / 07827 804066