HCF forging relationship with U.S. based Ellen & Ian Graham Foundation

Hibernian Community Foundation is delighted to announce the development of our relationship with the Ellen & Ian Graham Foundation.

The Ellen and Ian Graham Foundation was referred to us by way of a mutual friend and fellow Scot who has been familiar with our charitable work to date. When the foundation learned more about our Christmas Day Lunch for 500 they were keen to help those in need.  Their generous support, alongside donations collected towards our Christmas Appeal, helped us to feed over 500 members of our community on Christmas Day, and through the winter months, as we created a warm and welcoming atmosphere at Easter Road Stadium.

We are excited at the prospect of creating such a special bond with The Ellen and Ian Graham Foundation as its trustees have strong roots in Scotland.

Ian Graham’s father, John B. Graham, lived in the village of Bothwell in 1911, before marrying Catherine Hendrie in 1929 in St John the Baptist Catholic Church in Uddingston. The family then migrated to the USA where Ian H. Graham was born two years later. Ian Graham went on to create a unique type of business insurance and was a savvy investor and entrepreneur. His wife, Ellen Graham, became a world-renowned photographer, having snapped numerous Hollywood legends including Fred Astaire, Julie Christie, Warren Beatty, Clint Eastwood, Sidney Poitier. The family has generously provided funding for various communities across the United States and Scotland as they look to aid the delivery of food and support to those who need it most.

The Graham family and The Ellen & Ian Graham Foundation have been generously supporting charities, Christian organisations and the arts for decades. Their Foundation was created in 2004 and has since made over 300 grants to fund vital work within communities.

Ian Tracy, Chief Operating Officer, at The Ellen and Ian Graham Charitable Foundation, said:

“The Graham family has historically been quite private. Many may have interacted with Ian or Ellen or Alexis at various social functions but been unaware of their dedicated private philanthropy. The family remains true to their Catholic roots and continues to support the sick and the poor, from marginalised mothers to struggling migrant communities and more.

“Seeing those in need be treated with dignity and respect is important to the family.  And at the local level we’ve been impressed to see fans of the club volunteer to serve these lunches. We tip our caps to the fan volunteers as much as the HFC Christmas Day organisers.”

Director of Hibernian Community Foundation, Daljit Singh, added:

“Our community lunches, whether served on Christmas Day or on any other day, are a lifeline for so many we work with.  We’re indebted to Graham family and everyone at their charitable foundation for making this work possible.

“And six degrees of separation, who would have thought we could link Conrad Logan to Clint Eastwood!”