VARIETY – the Children’s Charity of South Australia has further strengthened their commitment to supporting children in need in the South Australian community by re-signing partnership agreements with the Port Adelaide and Adelaide Football Clubs for another three years. This innovative community driven partnership was originally announced in 2018 as the very first charity driven partnership between the clubs, centring around the bi-annual showdown matches and with naming rights to the ‘Variety Showdown Shield’.
Variety - the Children’s Charity provided grant funding of $300,000 over the past three years to support the clubs’ highly respected and effective community programs; Power Community Limited’s Empowering Youth Program and the Adelaide Crows Foundation’s AFL4Me, Growing with Gratitude and Ready, Set, Crow programs; positively impacting the lives of tens of thousands of children.
The next phase of this partnership will see hundreds more children given the opportunity to fulfil their potential and overcome whatever obstacles they face to live life to the fullest. This $300,000 investment from Variety is a true community partnership that will have a lasting profound effect on children in need across our state.
“Variety - the Children’s Charity is immensely proud of the partnership it shares with our state’s two AFL Clubs, as it is squarely focused on creating diverse positive outcomes for children in need through the Clubs community arms. Both clubs have enjoyed long term success in leveraging their profile to create progressive community change and with Variety’s support this is expanded to benefit more children,” said Brenton Ramsey, Chairperson, Variety SA.
Port Adelaide Chief Executive Officer Matthew Richardson was delighted to continue the partnership and continue achieving better outcomes for children who were less fortunate.
“Like Variety, the community is at the heart of everything we do at Port Adelaide,” Mr. Richardson said.
“With the support of Variety, our Community Youth Program will be able to each year engage an additional 500 students who attend the most disadvantaged schools in South Australia with key messages around healthy lifestyles, respect and STEM.”
“This partnership is a great demonstration of our clubs putting aside rivalries for an important cause,” he said.
Adelaide Crows CEO, Tim Silvers, said the Club was looking forward to working with Variety to enhance and expand its community programs.
“Through the Adelaide Crows Foundation, we are always trying to bring about positive change for children and youth across the State,” Silvers said.
“Our partnership with Variety will allow us to expand our reach in a meaningful way.”
“While we have a fierce on-field rivalry with Port Adelaide, we share strong community values and a desire to improve the lives of children in South Australia,” he said.
The re-signing of the agreement allows an opportunity for the design of a new trophy, a task that Variety is putting out to the club members and the broader community in their “Design the Showdown Shield” competition.
The winner will have bragging rights for life by witnessing their winning design, in the form of the Variety Showdown Shield, presented to the winning team at the conclusion of the Round 8 Showdown match.
To learn more, visit varietysa.org.au.
