The Sharks have announced its From the Heart Giving Partners for 2023, in supporting charities, not-for-profit, and community organisations who are making a difference in the community and in the lives of some of its most vulnerable members.
A panel comprising Sharks skipper Wade Graham, Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership team member Andie Robinson, Madeline Tynan from the Sharks Board of Directors, former player (Great White #404) Mitch Brown and local Elder Aunty Deanna Schreiber, selected four worthy partners from the countless applications received.
After much deliberation, two local, one regional and one national organisation were chosen, with From the Heart to support Gymea Community Aid and Information Services, the Sutherland Hospital, Community Radio 104.1 CHY FM from our home away from home in Coffs Harbour, as well as national charity Feel the Magic.
“The Cronulla Sharks appreciate there are countless charities and not-for-profit organisations in need of support, however our panel of NRL and Women’s players, Great Whites, Board and community members have selected four extremely worthy Giving Partners for the 2023 season, with each to receive a high-quality experience,” Sharks Have Heart Community Engagement Lead Rachal Allan explained.
“Our From the Heart partners will have opportunities to raise awareness and funds for their organisations including Game Day 50-50 raffles, a 2023 signed jersey and match tickets, access to our pool of volunteers and utilising the Sharks brand and social media to raise awareness to their cause.
“Sharks Have Heart and the entire Sharks team are proud to elevate the causes of our Giving Partners and to be their champions through our work as ‘The Community Club’,” she added.
Representatives of the four organisations, along with panel members Graham, Brown and Ms Tynan, attended PointsBet Stadium earlier this week for the program launch and partner announcements.
See above a video presentation from the announcement event, and below some information relating to each of the four From the Heart partners for 2023.
Gymea Community Aid and Information Service (GCAIS)
For more than 40 years GCAIS has offered person-centred services and support to residents of Gymea and the Sutherland Shire, celebrating inclusiveness, independence and participation in community life.
Aged care services, Community Development (groups and courses), Settlement and Multicultural Services, in addition to positive massaging in the community re anti racism and community harmony amongst the range of the services provided.
The Empowering Youth to Inspire Change (EYTIC) program, delivered in collaboration with Sutherland Shire Council, Black Rose Media, Headspace, Reg Mahoney Associates, Bayside and George's River Councils, is a youth ambassadors program delivered in five schools, three in the Sutherland Shire and two in the St George region. A community harmony and social cohesion project, EYTIC was co designed with community youth leaders and is youth led in the schools, with 15-plus students in the five schools trained in leadership skills, anti-bystander racism, Aboriginal cultural awareness, human rights and refugees and people seeking asylum awareness. EYTIC is a 3-year funded project through Multi Cultural NSW's Compact program, allowing GCAIS to take a year 9 cohort of students through the project every year for 3 years.
The From the Heart partnership and the support provided, will supplement the funding received through multicultural NSW.
Sutherland Hospital
The Shark’s From the Heart partnership aims to aid the expansion of the Oncology Day Clinic and the creation of a dedicated and purpose-built Research and Education Centre.
Built in 1946, estimates are that 97 percent of Shire residents have been exposed either personally or through family members to the Sutherland Hospital and to the treatments and services they provide, with the vision to create an oncology space where the environment meets clinical, psychological, spiritual and physical needs. Equally important is the need for our staff to be able to learn, teach and spearhead research that enables the Sutherland Hospital to be the future leaders of quality healthcare.
Currently at capacity, the goal is to expand the Oncology Day Clinic to benefit patients, families and staff as they move into the future.
Feel the Magic
Feel the Magic is an Australian charity providing grief education programs for children aged 7 to 18, who experience the death of a parent, guardian, or sibling.
Sadly, 1 in every 20 Australian children will experience the death of a parent before they turn 18 years old, while in relating to sport and rugby league and also putting into perspective, there is most likely a child grieving the loss of a parent in every football team.
Feel the Magic supports the mental health of bereaved kids and families by providing free camps, resources and strategies to live healthily with their grief.
Financial support offered through the From the Heart partnership would go towards helping to send kids to the Camp Magic program, which costs approximately $1500 per child to attend. Camp Magic is a 3-day/2-night residential camp program that provides psycho-education sessions as well as fun and challenging activities for kids in similar circumstance, allowing them to connect with others and to help reduce the sense of isolation and loneliness that grief often presents. Cam Magic provides a safe environment to face, feel and heal in their grief.
The From the Heart partnership will help to make grieving kids and their families aware of Feel the Magic and the services they offer, while also potentially attracting volunteers to assist at Camp Magic.
Community Radio 104.1 CHY FM – Coffs Harbour
104.1 CHY FM is a not-for-profit, fully independent community radio station that runs on the goodwill, hard work, passion and dedication of volunteers and staff and the generosity of subscribers, donors and sponsors who fund the station.
As a community radio station, 104.1 CHY FM provides an alternative to networked commercial and public media, with their mission to entertain, inspire, inform, educate and give a voice to the youth of the Coffs Harbour region.
104.1 CHY FM also prides itself on providing industry-based radio broadcast training and mentoring for local youth aged 13 to 30 interested in pursuing a pathway to employment in the communications and media-related industries.
Offering engaging and empowering volunteer opportunities for those seeking to make a valuable contribution to the community through broadcast media, 104.1 CHY FM are looking to set up satellite hubs to enable more of the local youth opportunity to access the station and to become involved. Satellite hubs in areas such as Woolgoolga, Sawtell and Boambee in the city centre, close to home/school would enable the station to be more accessible and inclusive.
