The Atlético de Madrid Foundation held its first ADN Rojiblanco awards gala at the Club Telefónica of the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on Wednesday 7 October, with six social projects linked to the club’s peñas receiving recognition and financial support. MARCA reported that the initiative is intended to back causes reflecting Atlético values both inside and beyond football, with sport and education presented as tools for social transformation.
The first ADN Rojiblanco gala recognises six social projects
Commitment, solidarity and dedication were among the qualities associated with the winning projects, each presented by an Atlético supporters’ club. Foundation ambassadors Carla Pereyra and Beatriz Espejel hosted the event, while Enrique Cerezo welcomed representatives of the projects and other guests.
Diego Pablo Simeone, Koke, Johnny Cardoso, Alexander Sørloth, Lola Gallardo and Rosa Otermín attended as representatives of the men’s and women’s teams. Atlético legend Adelardo Rodríguez was also present.
Projects span inclusion, education and health
The six initiatives were recognised across different social causes. In the Coraje y Corazón category, Ura Clan, presented by Peña Cheyenne, was honoured for promoting inclusion through rugby, while Dogpoint, presented by Peña Barrio del Pilar, trains and assigns assistance dogs to children with autism spectrum disorder.
The Soñando en Rojiblanco category recognized Beyond the noise, the feeling is heard, presented by Peña Bendita Sordera, for promoting inclusion through Spanish Sign Language in the Atlético environment. The planned Instituto Superior de Educación–El Congo, put forward by Peña Barajas and Peña San Sebastián de los Reyes, also received an award for its educational, healthcare and training objectives.
The other winners were La Lucha de un Unicorn, presented by Peña Atlética Adictos ATM P-13, which supports Aitana and her family with specialized therapies following serious physical and neurological consequences, and Latido del Pádel Inclusivo, presented by Peña Los Últimos del Calderón, which uses adapted padel to foster social inclusion. Mundo Deportivo reported details of the six winning projects and their presenting clubs.
Atlético donation supports Casa Aladina
The club also made a donation to Fundación Aladina to help build Casa Aladina in Madrid’s Hortaleza district. The project is intended to become a day centre offering comprehensive support to children with cancer, their families and survivors of childhood cancer, with therapies and programmes aimed at improving quality of life and emotional wellbeing.
The gala gives the foundation a new platform for recognising work carried out by organisations connected to Atlético’s peñas. Its focus was not limited to the awards themselves: the event also directed attention and financial support towards social projects operating beyond the pitch.