Partnership with Illawarra Hawks helps Healthy Cities program
Pepper Money’s partnership with popular basketball club the Illawarra Hawks is paying enormous dividends when it comes to teaching the region’s children life skills and how to stay healthy.
As the principal partner of Wollongong’s much-loved NBL club, the non-bank lender has kicked off 2022 by launching the Pepper Money Real Life Stories Program, providing financial grants to key community partners.
Through the program, the Hawks and Pepper Money are supporting the work of Healthy Cities Illawarra.
Guided by their core values of integrity, collaboration, equity and inclusivity, Healthy Cities Illawarra, based at Fairy Meadow, works alongside local government, health care providers and other community organisations to prevent and control diseases such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, asthma, dementia, depression, and anxiety.
“The great thing about Healthy Cities Illawarra is their programs are targeted at times where kids can be most vulnerable,” said Hawks community engagement officer Tim Coenraad, whose Hawks teammate Daniel Grida (pictured above left) experienced Healthy Cities Illawarra cooking classes in Shell Cove first-hand recently.
“Like after school and before parents are home from work, like school holidays, these are times where kids can fall into trouble and Healthy Cities Illawarra is addressing this with their community programs,” Coenraad said.
“Their programs cover a multitude of areas such as teaching the importance of life skills including cooking, cleaning, exercise, good nutrition, as well as being a good member of our community.”
Since it was set up in 1987, Healthy Cities has been creating healthy environments, enabling healthy choices, addressing social, economic and environmental causes of health inequity, and striving to achieve United Nations sustainable development goals.
The not-for-profit foundation aims to design, implement and evaluate evidence-based, cost-effective programs and achieve meaningful health and wellbeing outcomes.
“I believe we were chosen as a lucky recipient of this Hawks and Pepper Money grant, as I feel our values are closely aligned, in terms of teaching kids the importance of eating healthy from a young age,” said Healthy Cities Illawarra’s Michelle Barry (pictured above right).
“Our healthy eating programs combined with physical activities, such as our surf camp we recently held, teaches kids the importance of fuelling your body with the necessary nutrition to best excel in life.
“Without the support of the Hawks and Pepper Money, we wouldn’t be able to hold programs like this for all these awesome children from the Illawarra,” Barry said.
Pepper Money head of brand and sponsorships David Berry said he was pleased to highlight and support another fantastic not-for-profit foundation in the Illawarra.
“Given our relationship with the Illawarra Hawks, nothing brings us more joy than seeing the Illawarra community thrive,” Berry said.
“Our partnership with the Hawks strengthens our ability and relevance to make this happen – as they have deep relationships with the locals. By supporting local community groups like Healthy Cities Illawarra, we are actively making a real-life difference throughout the region.
“This is a particularly tough time for many young people feeling socially isolated and disconnected; so, we value programs like these which are giving young children and teens in the Illawarra community an opportunity to stay connected and have fun with their friends while learning valuable life skills.”
Berry said backing these programs is an easy decision for Pepper Money given that Healthy Cities Illawarra is educating and bringing together local children.
“We could not be prouder to support this program and acknowledge the real-life difference it will make in the community,” he said.
Berry added that the Pepper Money Real Life Stories Program was launched in partnership with the Hawks because “we were inspired to back more people through the highs and lows, and unexpected moments of everyday life.
“Tim Coenraad worked with us to identify key community groups and ways we can empower them to do what they do best,” he explained.
“Part of our financial investment was committed to the creation of the ‘Real Life Stories’ content series which looks to give financial grants to key community partners, so that they can continue their meaningful work within the Illawarra community and the next generation.”
“Through our partnership, we are able to reach and connect with the community and make a real-life difference that truly demonstrates our mission of helping people succeed.
“In addition to our funding, Pepper Money is committed to raising the awareness of the community groups who share our goals for helping people succeed, guided by our core values of being ‘real’, ‘balanced’, and a ‘can-do’ attitude.”
Berry said as the Real Life Stories program continues, Pepper Money will be looking to support groups that “support diversity, inclusion, and highlight the power of sport to bring people together”.
“We know that there are many local community groups who have been impacted by the obvious challenges presented over the last 18 months, so to come together with the Hawks to help empower community groups to continue their important work is really exciting,” he said.
