The chief executive of the Foundation of Light, Lesley Spuhler, will receive an OBE for her services to charities in the north east.
Lesley has led the Foundation of Light, the club’s official charity, for 13 years and has spent more than two decades in the charity sector.
Working with over 40,000 children, young people and families across the North east region each year, Foundation of Light is widely recognised as the blueprint for football-based community engagement. Established in 2001 with the purpose of using the power of football to change lives, the Foundation has grown to become one of the most pioneering sports charities in the world, winning multiple awards for its ground-breaking sports, health, community and education programmes.
Reacting to the news, Lesley said: “I am thrilled to receive this honour from Her Majesty The Queen as it recognises the valuable work we do in the community and the how charities such as the Foundation of Light can inspire people and really change lives.
“I am immensely grateful to the wonderful team of people at the Foundation who are so passionate about what we do and making a difference every day.”
