Niall Quinn, the former Republic of Ireland International footballer, has been nominated to receive a major new honour - The Beacon Prize 2003, after donating the proceeds of his testimonial match to charity, which led to over £1 million being raised for child welfare.

Niall Quinn has been chosen as a winner of a Judges' Special Prize. Setting a precedent for other players to follow suit, Niall, who also played for Sunderland, Manchester City and Arsenal, shared his generous donation between education projects in Africa and Asia and local hospitals in Dublin and Sunderland, forming the Niall Quinn Children's Charity. He has served as a positive role model and inspired others to give.

Beacon is a new charitable initiative which is raising the profile of giving in the UK while actively acknowledging and rewarding exceptional philanthropic acts by individuals.

Nominees who will also be recognised include an enterprising unemployed mother who has helped to transform her local community and two social entrepreneurs who are helping African farmers improve their quality of life.

All the winners of the inaugural Beacon Prize 2003 have been selected by an expert panel of judges from an overwhelming response of 765 nominations. The final fourteen winners were chosen for their exceptional charitable efforts and because they are an inspiration for others to give of their time, money or expertise.

The full list of Beacon Prize winners 2003 is: -

• Professor David Morley - Lifetime Achievement
• Lord Bhatia of Hampton - Leadership
• Carol Wiggins - Leadership
• Dr Martin Fisher & Nick Moon - Creative Giving
• Tom Hunter - Creative Giving
• Jason Maude - Start Up
• Dame Stephanie Shirley - Start Up
• David Constantine - Courage
• Zac Goldsmith - Young Philanthropist
• Sarah Francis - Young Philanthropist
• Niall Quinn - Judge's Special Prize
• John Profumo - Judge's Special Prize
• Sir J Paul Getty - Judge's Special Posthumous Prize

The winners will be invited to attend a ceremony in the New Year at No. 11 Downing Street, hosted by the Rt. Hon Gordon Brown, MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer. Here the winners will be presented with their prizes and the overall winner, who will receive a £20,000 donation for their charity, will also be announced.

In addition, they will be invited to become the first Beacon Fellows, who will help to shape the future of the charity and be an inspiration to other philanthropists.

Commenting on the announcement of the winner, Beacon's Chief Executive Emily Stonor, said: "The Beacon Prize is not about winners and losers. It's about celebrating and recognising people from whom we can all learn. We all have something to give - each and every one of us is capable of making a difference."

David Charters, Chair of Trustees, stated "In an age of cynicism, disengagement and increasing indifference these nominations show that many extraordinary people are working tirelessly and successfully to make a positive difference to society. We are still a nation of true philanthropists, reflecting our long and rich history of charitable activity."

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For further information please contact: Suzi Nealson or Anne Sampson at Good Relations on 0207 861 3217 or email snealson@goodrelations.co.uk or Emily Stonor at Beacon 0207 849 6550 or email emily.stonor@beaconfellowship.org.uk