The new education charity founded by leading UK technology entrepreneur and Owls fan David Richards will have its logo beamed to a global audience of 6m people this weekend.
Sheffield Wednesday are helping to raise the profile of the David and Jane Richards Family Foundation at Sunday’s FA Cup fourth round tie against Chelsea, which is being broadcast live on BBC One.
The Owls players will bear the name of the charity on the sleeve of their shirts as they take on the Premier League giants.
The David and Jane Richards Family Foundation works with schools to inspire young people about career opportunities in the fast-growing UK tech sector and uses sports data to introduce them to computer science.
David Richards is the founder, CEO and chairman of WANdisco plc, the public software company jointly headquartered in Sheffield and Silicon Valley.
David said: “I’m a lifelong Owls fan and am incredibly proud to see my beloved hometown club supporting our charity’s cause at this momentous sporting occasion.
“Jane and I set up the foundation to spark the imagination of young people and encour-age them to become technology entrepreneurs and tackle the challenges facing the world.
“We believe that tech should be a force for good in our communities and we’re delighted that Sheffield Wednesday are helping to promote our foundation.”
Sheffield Wednesday’s director of communications Trevor Braithwait added: “We are proud to embrace the work of a raft of charities and forge strong partnerships accordingly.
“Having teamed up with David Richards and WANdisco in recent years through sponsorship programmes, we are fully conversant with the digital innovation and knowledge he brings to the table.
“The project of the David and Jane Richards Family Foundation has an instant appeal in our local community and we are delighted the charity will be showcased on a wider scale to the nation on Sunday.”
The first group of pupils to study the foundation’s curriculum at Tapton School in Shef-field are set to visit the club later this year to see how the Owls use data to analyse and improve performance on the pitch.
Mr Richards plans to auction a number of signed shirts featuring the foundation’s logo to raise money for the charity.
About the David and Jane Richards Family Foundation
David Richards, the founder and chief executive of WANdisco plc, set up djrff.org with wife Jane to educate, empower and improve the lives of children.
The foundation is registered as a charitable incorporated organisation to operate throughout England.
Its trustees are Professor Chris Brady, director of the Centre for Sports Business at the University of Salford, Lord Kerslake, the former head of the civil service, and Herb Kim, founder and CEO of Thinking Digital.
Its aims are the advancement of computing and ecology education in state schools and the advancement of environmental protection and improvement.
The foundation is also supporting the installation and running of beehives at a number of state schools in the Sheffield area. David and Jane Richards have donated shares in WANdisco to fund its work.