Belgian players recognise charity work of Jan Vertonghen and his foundation

• Belgian player union United Athletes each year financially supports a charity
  
  
• Their player council selects the organisation that receives the donation
  
  
• The Jan Vertonghen Foundation was the 2024 recipient for its outstanding work

United Athletes, the Belgian union for professional sportspeople, has donated 25,000 euro to former national team player Jan Vertonghen’s foundation.

Every year, United Athletes’ football branch puts aside a substantial amount of money that will be donated to a charitable organisation. The union nominates candidates for this donation, after which the union's player council, consisting of footballers from Belgium's national team and the country's two professional divisions, makes the final decision.

"This year, the players were unanimous in their choice to support the Jan Vertonghen Foundation," said Sebastien Stassin, who is the main responsible for professional footballers at United Athletes.

Vertonghen started his foundation in 2018 on the occasion of his 100th cap for Belgium. He had two core goals in mind: 1) inspiring children in hospitals to play and be creative, and 2) encouraging children to play outside more by creating modern playgrounds.

The Anderlecht defender and his foundation have developed various activities and built around 15 playgrounds. Many of these areas have been created at hospitals, as Vertonghen wants these children to be able to play despite battling their illness. 

"I am convinced that sports and play can have a positive influence on the mental wellbeing of children, and this is also backed by scientific research," the 37-year-old said about creating playgrounds.

The Jan Vertonghen Foundation recently started a collaboration with a university hospital in Antwerp that helps children and adolescents with psychiatric problems (UKJA). Through his organisation, Vertonghen provides the hospital with resources to integrate exercise and sports into the treatment and wellbeing of the children.

During a December visit to the hospital, Vertonghen welcomed a delegation of United Athletes and FIFPRO that accompanied him while he was meeting with the children and adolescents staying at the UKJA. "I see it as my job to bring a little bit of positivity, as well as a smile on their face."