Match of the Day presenter Gabby Logan has praised the BGC Charity Day as both a “fun” and “important” event, highlighting its dual role in fundraising and remembrance. Held annually on September 11, this day honours the memory of more than 650 BGC Group employees who perished in the 2001 terrorist attacks. Since its inception in 2005, the event has raised over $220 million (£162 million) globally for a diverse range of charities, drawing high-profile celebrity participation and widespread support.

Logan, who serves as president of Muscular Dystrophy UK, participated at BGC’s London headquarters during this year’s Charity Day. Speaking to the PA news agency, she reflected on the significance of the event, saying: “This is the grand trading day at BGC that goes towards a range of charities, incredible charities, all of them, and they’re all very lucky to be chosen, as is ours, Muscular Dystrophy UK.” She emphasised both the enjoyment and the importance of the day for fundraising, while paying tribute to colleagues lost in the 9/11 attacks. “So many people lost their lives from BGC and it was possibly the most people that died under one company, and what a brilliant way to remember those people and to give back.”

The BGC Charity Day originated from the devastating events of 9/11, when brokers at BGC’s London office listened to their New York counterparts’ final communications during the attacks. The company’s entire global revenue from this day is donated to the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund and a host of other charities worldwide. This year alone, millions were raised for over 150 charitable causes, a testament to the event’s extensive reach and impact.

Among the celebrities joining the event were actors Tom Hardy and Hugh Grant, boxer Anthony Joshua, and footballers from the England Lionesses squad such as Lucy Bronze, Alessia Russo, and Keira Walsh. TV personalities Davina McCall and Amanda Holden also took part. Dame Kelly Holmes, former Olympian and founder of the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust, told PA: “I’m here to obviously make a lot of money for charities, including my own. We work with young people in communities, the health sector, and in schools, using retired and retiring athletes as mentors.” She underscored the event’s spirit of competitiveness and charity, noting a particularly high target set on the trading floor.

The range of charities benefiting is wide-ranging. Besides Muscular Dystrophy UK and the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust, others include Help For Heroes, the West Ham United Foundation, Battersea Cats And Dogs Home, and The Mayor’s Fund for London. Celebrities from around the world endorse causes linked to their personal or professional lives, helping to maximise funds and attention for these organisations. For example, Eli Manning supported Tackle Kids Cancer, while Rosie Perez represented The Felix Organization, which aids children in foster care.

The event takes place simultaneously at BGC’s offices across major cities worldwide, including New York, Paris, Singapore, Hong Kong, São Paulo, and Sydney. It has grown into an annual global tradition, not only commemorating the lives of those lost but also turning a day marked by tragedy into one characterised by hope, giving, and community spirit. The Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund has expanded its mission beyond 9/11 families to include aid for victims of natural disasters, emergencies, and wounded military personnel.

This year’s iteration also featured other notable celebrity ambassadors such as Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, Charlize Theron, Patrick Dempsey, Matthew McConaughey, Regina Hall, and former U.S. President Bill Clinton, further highlighting the high-profile nature of the event. BGC Charity Day continues to be a powerful example of how business and philanthropy can unite in meaningful remembrance and impactful charitable work.

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Source: Noah Wire Services