PUMA Donates Thousands of Kits to Manchester Youth Programs

When PUMA sat down to plan their donation to City in the Community, they didn't do things halfway. The sportswear brand donated enough kits to match the thousands of young people the charity supports throughout the entire 2024/25 season.

The timing couldn't be better. The donation arrived just before Community Matchday at Manchester's Etihad Stadium, when the entire club celebrates its charity work. Over the coming weeks, those kits will land in the hands of kids across 121 schools and nurseries in Greater Manchester.

But the gear isn't just heading to classrooms. Young people in programs like One City disability support, City Onside at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, and City Girls will all receive equipment too. PUMA threw in thousands of additional kits to support the charity's fundraising efforts throughout the year.

"This donation is a shining example of what we can achieve when we all share one important mission: empowering healthier lives through football," said Mike Geary, City in the Community's Chief Executive. The charity uses sports to create opportunities for vulnerable youth who need extra support.

The Ripple Effect

This donation represents something bigger than free sportswear. When kids have proper equipment, they're more likely to participate in programs that build confidence, teach teamwork, and create healthy habits. City in the Community runs everything from mentoring programs for struggling teens to free soccer schools that reached almost 700 children last year.

The Community Matchday itself shows how powerful collective action can be. Manchester City's players, led by the team captains, made their own financial donation for the second year running. This year's funds will cover an entire year of the City Mentoring program, providing one-on-one support for young people facing tough circumstances.

Even the stadium is getting in on the action. For one day, it becomes "The City in the Community Etihad Stadium," complete with charity banners and hand-drawn graphics created by local schoolchildren. Defender Ruben Dias is taking over the announcement system on matchday trams and buses to spread the word about the charity's work.

Player Mateo Kovačić captured the spirit perfectly: "It makes me very proud to hear that PUMA has donated enough kits to support the total number of people supported by City in the Community."

When companies, sports teams, and communities work together, thousands of young people get the chance to play, grow, and thrive.