AHEAD of Saturday night’s huge clash between Port Adelaide and Adelaide, Variety chairman Rob Kerin has highlighted the importance of the organisation’s partnership with the two clubs.
Speaking at the Captain’s Showdown press conference on Monday morning, Kerin said it was great to honour the work that is done in the community.
“The clubs do a hell of a lot of good work, particularly with kids, that doesn’t always make the newsroom,” Kerin said.
“Variety support the two foundations to do the good work they do in the community.
“It’s an opportunity to shine a light on the great work the two clubs actually do, and it’s our honour to be able to help them in doing that terrific work.
“It ticks the box for us, in terms of the money we raise going to good causes and seeing the value for money people give to Variety.
“It’s a good way of promoting what Variety do and it does promote what the clubs do.”
Power co-captain Ollie Wines said the players and the club as a whole are very proud of the work that is done in the community, and the partnership with Variety is vital to that.
“Our club is a community born club and pride ourselves on all of the programs we run in the community,” Wines said.
“To be associated with Variety - for the Showdowns - gives those underprivileged children in need the opportunity to flourish.”
Variety sponsors Port’s Empowering Youth program - a program that focusses on targeting disengaged youth.
Port Adelaide’s General Manager - Power Community Limited Ross Wait said the partnership allows the club make a real difference in the community.
“The support we receive from Variety is very important,” Wait said.
“It allows us to get out in the community and target the young people that are really in need.
“There are great examples of students who hadn’t attended school for over three years, becoming re-engaged with education from our program.
“With the branding of both Variety and Port Adelaide it is helping young people participate in school.”
The experiences the students receive as reward for engaging in the Empowering Youth program are vital to the success of the program, according to Wait.
“The support we receive from Variety enable us to provide experiences the students wouldn’t get otherwise,” he said.
“They go out to Edinburgh and experience the lifestyle of the defence force, which aligns really nicely with our partnership with the ADF.
“They also get to come to Alberton Oval and have the inner-sanctum experience.
“They get to rub shoulders with the players and get to experience the inner-workings of a professional football club.
“It helps them understand the employment opportunities that are also available here.”
