AFL Club North Melbourne has joined forces with World Vision as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, in a move that has seen North Melbourne turn its back on receiving income from gambling.
This comes after North Melbourne ended its partnership with a betting agency late last year and surrendered its pokie machine license four years ago.
North Melbourne’s Chief Executive Eugene Arocca said, “A strong CSR program is fundamental to having greater community engagement and this partnership will extend our Corporate Social Responsibility to a national and even international level.”
“Our club motto is ‘Victory demands Care’, and we believe we can help drive everyday community and social issues. We are encouraged to have World Vision Australia supporting us and will be using the experience and wisdom of Tim Costello and his organization to ensure we continue to raise the bar on how sporting clubs interact with society on community issues.”
The move was welcomed by World Vision who will now have their logo added to North Melbourne’s backdrop at press conferences.
Tim Costello, World Vision Australia’s Chief Executive, spoke in support of the move from North Melbourne. “I commend the North Melbourne Football Club for embracing Corporate Social Responsibility in such a committed way and I’m delighted that the club has chosen World Vision to share in its dream for a more caring community. This unique partnership is an exciting opportunity for World Vision Australia.”
“As a passionate football supporter, I understand the important role Aussie Rules plays in Australian culture and in diverse sections of the community. This partnership allows World Vision an opportunity to raise the profile of our work as well as engage with new voices to promote a just and equitable world.
“North Melbourne would be the only Melbourne-based AFL team World Vision can partner with because our screening policies say we don’t take money from gambling, from armaments and tobacco. And they don’t have pokies or sports-betting sponsorships. Tobacco destroys lives, as does gambling and armament.
However, the partnership has not been supported by all. The
Herald Sun reports that former North directors, businessman Peter de Rauch and hotelier John Nicholson used the announcement to attack North Melbourne President James Brayshaw labeling him a ‘teddy-bear’ and saying the deal would make it “nearly impossible for North to be financially viable”.
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