Benfica Foundation receives award for prison project

Benfica Foundation receives award for prison project

The Benfica Foundation received an award for the project that they carried out at the Tires Prison in cooperation with the General Directorate for Reintegration and Prison Services. Benfica FC Vice President Domingos Almeida Lima and the Executive Director of the Foundation, Jorge Miranda accepted the prize at the “Making a Difference” Gala at Casino Estoril.

In May 2016, the Benfica Foundation in collaboration with the Directorate General for Reintegration and Prison Services created two children’s playgrounds at the Tires Prison, for the children of inmates living in the Casa das Mães, in Lisbon. Two years after the realisation of the playgrounds and the continuous support of the Benfica Foundation, the project receives an award at the “Making a Difference” Gala. The gala aims to distinguish institutions, football players, other high-level athletes and artists from diverse areas for their solidarity.

A good example for other clubs

Domingos Almeida Lima considers this type of recognition very relevant as it serves as an example to other clubs and institutions: “This recognition is very important because Benfica has been involved to tackle these social issues for many years. There are hundreds of thousands of young people who have been supported throughout the years by the Benfica Foundation, which has always been present in moments when there was a need. What we would like is that more clubs and institutions in Portugal to follow our example, because we are too small to help all that many people who need it.”

Jorge Miranda, Executive Director of the Benfica Foundation, believes that it is possible to help even more people: “Benfica is a well established brand in sport but the social impact of the organisation is equally great. The Club is more than 100 years old and although the Foundation is less than 10 years old, it already has delivered many activities. There is still much to do however and the potential for the social programmes of the club to grow are enormous. That is why the public recognition of the Benfica projects and institutions are very important.”

In addition to the Benfica Foundation, Nuno Gomes, a former athlete and former director of the club’s football team, was honoured at the Gala “Making a Difference” for being an ambassador for social causes.