'We want fans to be proud of foundation'
Sunday's charity game at Anfield will represent another huge step in the right direction for the Liverpool FC Foundation, whose aim is to continue to grow boundlessly and aid those in need.
Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher will lead two All-Star squads out onto the hallowed turf for a fixture that will raise much-needed funds for charities working steadfastly in the local community.
Alder Hey Children's Hospital, which provides care for more than 275,000 children and young people every year, will make strides towards the completion of their stunning new Hospital in the Park thanks to funds raised from the match.
Claire House, Centre 56, Cash for Kids and Positive Futures - charities that provide an immeasurable amount of support for people throughout the region - will be given a boost by the occasion, too.
Liverpool's foundation, who have worked diligently over the last three months to bring the game to fruition, will also receive a helping hand as they continue to help change lives under the banner of the club crest.
"We want the fans to be proud of the foundation - they should be proud of it," said Andrea Cooper, head of the Liverpool FC Foundation.
"Liverpool have been doing work in the community for more than two decades. The money from this game will help us to do more. It's also a great chance for us to bring in some of the charities we've been working with.
"The club is very supportive of the foundation. It's one of our best kept secrets. A lot of fans, when I tell them about it, they say 'it's great' so I've been raising awareness through things like the matchday programme, the advertising boards, just to let people know LFC Foundation exists, and we're doing good stuff and we want to do more."
Plans had been mooted for a charity game prior to Gerrard's announcement he will depart Anfield in the summer - but once the skipper confirmed his decision, in early January, the process of organising Sunday's event escalated.
"It snowballed from there because we realised that with Steven's networks and Jamie's networks we could bring together players they had played with, or against, or admired and make that a celebration," explained Ms Cooper.
"There was a lot of work that we had to do. This game would not have been possible without the contribution of many departments.
"We had to get permission from the players and their clubs, their nation's FA, then UEFA and FIFA. There were a lot of questions and approvals we had to go through and that's why we didn't announce it until we did because we had to make sure it was formally approved.
"We all had to take a deep breath, but colleagues at the club, what they do is put on games, week after week after week, there's a machine we can tap into.
"This is extra work, but I think there is this real shared vision across the club, everybody wants the foundation to be bigger, better, more expansionist, so everybody said they'd get behind it."
One of the organisations that will benefit from Sunday's game is Alder Hey - the children's hospital situated a short walk from Liverpool's Melwood training base in West Derby.
The club has enjoyed close bonds to Alder Hey for more than 20 years, and as work on a brand new state-of-the-art hospital continues, funds raised by the charity game will prove hugely beneficial.
"I went for a tour of the new hospital last week with my hard hat and because it's opening in September a lot of it is almost finished," said Ms Cooper.
"You realise what a difference these funds will make. About 75 per cent of children will have their own rooms instead of a shared ward and this kind of money can personalise those rooms.
"They have something like 18,000 operations a year so for their families we can help make it feel a bit more like home."
If you are in the UK and would like to donate to the Liverpool FC Foundation and nominated charities by text then please text YNWA15 followed by the amount you are donating to 70070. You may give £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10.*
Example of text message: YNWA15 £10
You will receive a thank you text with a link to gift aid your donation. If you're not in the UK and would like to donate, please visithttp://foundation.liverpoolfc.com/get-involved for information.
*Texts are free and your donation amount will be deducted from your mobile phone credit or added to your monthly phone bill. The charity will receive 100 per cent of your donation. You must be 16 or over and please ask the bill payer's permission. For full terms and conditions and more information, please visit www.justgiving.com/info/terms-of-service.