Evoke pulled in £153,907 at its second annual gala for the Motor Neurone Disease Association on November 13. The Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds hosted over 500 guests for the evening event.
Staff from Evoke’s global offices showed up alongside business partners and celebrity ambassadors linked to the company’s brands. The night featured dinner, entertainment and fundraising activities throughout.
The operator’s now the MND Association’s biggest corporate donor ever. This year’s total beat what they raised at the first gala in 2023.
Mark Summerfield attended as Evoke’s newly appointed Chair. He took over in October after Lord Jon Mendelsohn stepped down from the position. Anne de Kerckhove also joined the board as Deputy Chair during the same reshuffle.
Why This Partnership Matters to the Company
The connection runs deeper than standard corporate charity work. An Evoke regional operations manager’s niece was diagnosed with MND at just 26 years old. That personal link shaped the partnership from the start.
Employees actually voted to pick MND Association as their long-term charity partner back in 2024. It wasn’t a top-down decision from management.
Leeds has its own strong MND connection through former rugby player Rob Burrow. His death brought renewed national attention to the disease. Around 5,000 people get diagnosed with MND each year across the UK.
The disease affects thousands of people nationwide. But the Leeds connection made it particularly relevant for Evoke’s workforce.
What the Gala Raised and Delivered
This year’s fundraising figure surpassed the previous event’s total. The evening mixed entertainment with various fundraising activities designed to maximise donations.
Evoke also ran a Charity Race Day at Ripon Racecourse earlier in the year. That event contributed to the overall fundraising efforts across 2024.
During the gala, Evoke announced a two-year extension with the MND Association. The new partnership sets a collective fundraising target exceeding £1m. That’s a substantial increase from what they’ve achieved so far.
The extended timeline runs through 2026. It gives the charity stable funding to plan research projects and support programs.
How the Funds Support MND Research
The money goes directly to the charity’s core work. It’ll fund research into the disease and improve access to care for patients across the country.
The MND Association also uses donations for advocacy work. They push for better support systems for people living with the condition and their families.
Evoke’s commitment stands out in the iGaming sector. Not many operators maintain multi-year charity partnerships at this funding level. The operator established the partnership in 2024 after that colleague-led review process.
The timing coincides with Evoke’s board changes. But the charity work continues regardless of leadership shifts. The new fundraising target suggests the company’s increasing its commitment during the transition period.
