The Port Adelaide Football Club and Foodbank have teamed up in an innovative partnership that tackles one of Australia’s biggest social issues by harnessing The Power To End Hunger.

Port Adelaide is proud to welcome Foodbank - Australia’s largest hunger-relief organisation - as a Joint Major Partner of the Power from 2012.

The unique alliance - believed to be a first for a sporting club in Australia - will help to put a national spotlight on the problem of hunger and generate corporate sponsorship to aid Foodbank’s efforts to provide nutritious food for the hundreds of thousands of Australians who go without it.

“This is an innovative program that we know will result in Foodbank improving more people’s lives and we are very proud to be a part of that,” said Port Adelaide Chief Executive Officer Keith Thomas.

“Our partnership - while groundbreaking - is also wonderfully simple. We will bring together a network of corporate supporters under The Power To End Hunger campaign and share the net proceeds with Foodbank on a 50-50 basis.

“This arrangement is underpinned by a governance structure which will ensure every dollar contributed to the campaign is independently audited and reviewed.

“That money will help Foodbank grow its capacity and do even more to help feed hungry South Australians.

“At least 5,000 kids go to school hungry every day in South Australia and 130,000 people needed food relief last year, so hunger is a serious and growing issue.

“With the reach of our brand and the national stage on which we play, we are able to bring corporate partners together with Foodbank to make a real difference while also raising public awareness of the issue.”

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Foodbank was established in Sydney in 1992 and began operations in Adelaide in 2000. In South Australia it sources, collects and stores food from donors on behalf of 600 charities and community programs that help individuals and families in need of support.

Foodbank Chief Executive Officer Richard Pagliaro said the partnership would deliver a massive boost to the organisation and its cause.

“For far too long, Foodbank has been fighting the issue of hunger in Australia without widespread awareness of the issue and without the profile it needs,” Mr Pagliaro said.

“This unique partnership with the Port Adelaide Football Club will provide critical funding to help us grow our programs moving forward. Beyond that, it will raise awareness of Foodbank and the work we do within a much greater audience - and that will be invaluable.

“Port Adelaide has produced a brilliant solution which does all of that whilst providing a return for the Club to ensure this partnership is sustainable in the long term - and with it our shared commitment to combat hunger.”

Mr Thomas said the partnership would involve everyone associated with the Port Adelaide Football Club, with a group of eight players signing on as ambassadors aligned with Foodbank’s strategic objectives.

“We are talking about tackling a major issue which requires long-term support and this is something which we as a Club are totally committed to,” Mr Thomas said.

“Port Adelaide is honoured to enter into this partnership. We are a passionate, community orientated football club and we’ve been looking for a partner who would give us the opportunity to get involved and make a genuine difference to the lives of South Australians.”

Port Adelaide supporters and the sporting public will also play a role in delivering The Power to End Hunger, with the Club planning a full calendar of activity in support of the campaign. This will include match day initiatives, Club events and other fundraising initiatives in support of Foodbank.