Premier League club Everton are to donate £500,000 to support the humanitarian fundraising effort for those affected by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
A total of £250,000 has been pledged by the club to the Disaster Emergency Committee's Ukraine appeal, which has been matched by chairman Bill Kenwright and majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri.
The money raised by the Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC) will help charities provide food, water, shelter and healthcare to refugees and displaced families.
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The appeal is a collaboration of 15 leading UK aid charities, focused on the efficient raising of funds to provide an instant response to people in life-and-death situations.
Mr Kenwright told the club's website: "The images we have all seen of the tragedy unfolding in Ukraine are heartbreaking. And wrong. Simply and horribly wrong.
"As a club, we have been following with growing horror the news from Ukraine, where indiscriminate attacks are placing innocent civilians, including children, in harm's way.
"Football has an incredible power to unite people and we are eager to do everything we can to show our support for the innocent victims of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
"We are all praying for peace - but we are also determined to help the humanitarian effort right now in a bid to save lives. The toll this war is exacting on Ukrainian families is horrendous.
"Our donation to the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal is the start of a campaign to promote and support the fundraising efforts of the Disaster Emergency Committee for Ukraine."
