The Kennards Hire Foundation welcomed more than 100 young football fans and their families recently to enjoy a free VIP experience at the Sydney FC and Melbourne City match at Allianz Stadium.
With a special view of the match from the bespoke Kennards Hire Kids Bay, attendees from beneficiaries of several longstanding charity partners of the Kennards Hire Foundation, including BackTrack, The Smith Family, Stepping Stone House, Kids Xpress, and Taronga Zoo, watched the nail-biting match, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
As a special treat for all the guests, the Sydney FC players shared a personal welcome video with the families via SMS, and children and families were treated to a guest appearance by Sydney FC players, Aaron Gurd and Wataru Kamijo, as well as being provided the unforgettable experience to walk on the field following the match.
The Kennards Hire Foundation was established in 2018, formalising decades of philanthropic and community support to help make Australia and New Zealand better places for future generations through support of disadvantaged youth and environmental conservation. Kennards Hire Kids Bay was a unique experience, which enabled families and children who may not otherwise have the opportunity to enjoy the atmosphere and excitement of an A-League game live.
Kennards Hire Foundation Director, Kirsty Kovacs, said, “We were thrilled to have so many young people from our charity partner organisations, joining us in the Kennards Hire Kids Bay. Sydney FC have been a partner of Kennards Hire for eight years now, and we’re so grateful to their team, and the players, for giving these young people such a special experience and making them feel part of the football community.”
Long-time Kennards Hire Foundation partner charity, BackTrack Youth Works, a regional NSW based organisation, which provides wraparound youthwork to help disengaged young people get their lives back on track, brought along three young guests to enjoy the game.
Marcus Watson, CEO BackTrack Youth Works, said, “The occasion to travel to Sydney began with the opportunity to attend a game bigger than they have ever been to, then there was the road trip from Armidale, rolling across the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Not to mention the VIP treatment on arrival at the event. Our fellas have had such an amazing time, but most importantly, these experiences allow our young people to think and dream bigger.”
The Smith Family, which has partnered with the Kennards Hire Foundation and family for 25 years to support students in their ‘Learning for Life’ program, was also in attendance. Ali Barry, National Manager Major Gifts, The Smith Family, was delighted to be able to share the VIP experience with over 40 local family participants.
“Saturday evening was a very special event when Smith Family students and their families joined the Kennards Hire Foundation in the Kennards Hire Kids Bay. I could see it meant a lot to the kids, some of whom might be aspiring to have sports careers of their own.”
Kennards Hire is a long-term sponsor of Sydney FC supporting its A-League Men’s and Women’s squads, along with grassroots football initiatives. With Kennards Hire Foundation, Kennards Hire and Sydney FC all sharing strong family values, and the ability to connect communities, the opportunity to extend previous community-focused supported events and provide an experience of a lifetime for young people and their families was a natural evolution.
“We are delighted to be able to provide this wonderful experience for the Kennards Hire Foundation and their charity partner families,” Sydney FC CEO Mark Aubrey said.
“To hear the stories of excitement and to see the joy on their faces shows the power football and Sydney FC have to really make a difference, and we will continue to engage with our communities in the most positive way.
“We hope we will see many of them again attending our games and continuing to participate and enjoy football for the long term.”
Image: L-R – Aaron Gurd (Sydney FC), Kennards Hire Foundation guests, Wataru Kamijo (Sydney FC), Kirsty Kovacs (Kennards Hire Foundation), Mei Ling Ho (Kennards Hire Foundation)
