Three young men from Armidale’s BackTrack program have been treated to a special experience, thanks to the Kennards Hire Foundation.
The locals were part of 100 young football fans, and their families, to enjoy a free VIP experience at the Sydney FC and Melbourne City match at Allianz Stadium over the weekend. Which turned out to be a nail-biting match ending 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.
Kennards Hire Foundation
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.”
BackTrack Youth Works has been a long-time partner charity with the foundation, and was pleased to be part of the day.
“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,” said Marcus Watson, CEO BackTrack Youth Works.
“Our fella’s have had such an amazing time, but most importantly, these experiences allow our young people to think and dream bigger.”
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.” said Sydney FC CEO, Mark Aubrey.
“To hear the stories of excitement and to see the joy on their faces shows the power football and Sydney FC has 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.”
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