Leicester City to Rename Foundation in honor of Club’s Late President
The English Premier League side, Leicester City Football Club, have renamed their Foundation in honour of the Club’s Chairman, who tragically lost his life alongside four others, on Saturday 27 October. The LCFC Foxes Foundation will now be known as The Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Foundation.
The late chairman, known affectionately by the club’s supporters as Khun Vichai, died following a helicopter accident at King Power Stadium. The Thai billionaire purchased the club in 2010, and in the following years was instrumental in their fairytale-like success which saw them promoted from the England’s second tier and later crowned Premier League Champions in the 2015-16 season.
The city, the club and the sporting world has rallied in support of his family and the Foundation that he cared deeply about. Khun Vichai’s generosity saw him make over £4M in personal donations to local hospitals, universities and charities in recent years.
To honor Vichai’s life and his generous spirit, a number of items will be auctioned off to help raise money for The Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Foundation, including Jamie Vardy’s Executive box for this Saturday’s game against Burnley and a pair of Kasper Schmeichel’s gloves.
Since its formation in the 2011/12 season, the Foundation has raised almost £2M for local charities, helping fund a renovation of Leicester Royal Infirmary’s Children’s Outpatient Ward and for life-saving equipment that is desperately needed by the Children’s Intensive Care Unit.
The LCFC Foxes Foundation uses football as a force for good in the community. Under its new name, The Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Foundation will continue to build on that life-changing work in a way that reflects the generosity, care and love of a man who made over £4M in personal donations to the city’s universities, hospitals and charities in recent years.
Among the dozens of local causes supported since it was first formed in 2011 are Leicester Hospitals Charity, LOROS and Rainbows Children’s Hospice, as well as the installation of life-saving defibrillators in key areas around Leicestershire.