New Champions Unite to End Violence

SOUTH AUSTRALIA’S GREATEST SPORTING AND CULTURAL CHAMPIONS JOIN THE SAMMY D FOUNDATION TO HELP END VIOLENCE IN OUR SCHOOLS AND SPORTING FIELDS

The Sammy D Foundation is honoured to announce its new ambassador program, The Sammy D Foundation Champions, which will see an AFL Coach, AFL Brownlow winner, Olympians, a Paralympian and Senior Kaurna Man standing with the Sammy D Foundation in educating young people around the impacts of violence, bullying, and alcohol and other drug misuse.

The Sammy D Foundation’s Champions will work to bolster and personify the values of the Foundation, with each sporting or cultural star working publicly alongside the organisation to enhance its work and education programs.

Joining existing Sammy D Foundation ambassadors, cricketing great Darren Lehmann, former Adelaide Crows favourite Sam Jacobs and Suncorp Super Netball League player Sasha Glasgow, is 2022 Brownlow Medalist and Port Adelaide superstar Ollie Wines and on field rival, Adelaide Football Club coach  Matthew Nicks.

These South Australian sporting icons have committed to working alongside the Sammy D Foundation as it strives to eradicate violence and poor on and off field behaviour, from players and fans alike, from South Australia’s sporting fields.

These two AFL superstars will be joined by Senior Kaurna Man and Aboriginal Practice Manager at Relationships Australia SA, Mickey O’Brien, who will use his experience as a First Nations educator to support Sammy D Foundation’s work to further reduce violence in the community. 

Further, one of Adelaide United and the Socceroos greatest ever players, Bruce Djite, is choosing to stand alongside the Sammy D Foundation and will be joined by two Olympians in Olympic cyclist and policewoman Steph Morton, and current member of Australia’s Paralympic swim team and winner of a silver and bronze medal at the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo, Isabella Vincent.

Australian volleyballer, Chris McHugh, is buoyed by the opportunity to support the Foundation, as is Fijian/Australian former rugby union player Alex Rokobaro.

This stable of new Sammy D Foundation Champions will work with the organisation to find ways to spread the message and work of the Sammy D Foundation, and will be aligned to specific programs such as their Impact,  ‘Monkey See, Monkey Do’ Positive Role Modelling, “True Colours" Bullying Prevention Education and programs.

Adelaide Football Club coach Matthew Nicks said he is honoured to support the Sammy D Foundation.

“The work the foundation does in the community is second to none and stamping out violence in sports at any level is something that is incredibly close to my heart, and I am looking forward to being able to contribute,” said Nicks.  

Port Adelaide champion Ollie Wines says that while they might be rivals on the pitch, he is honored to be standing alongside Nicks.

“Violence in our community is a huge issue and bigger than any one sporting team; it’s something everybody needs to get behind in a united front and I can’t wait to start this work,” said Wines

Chairperson for the Sammy D Foundation, Brett Duncanson, says the list of champions the Sammy D Foundation has released is extraordinary.

“We have such an amazing cross-section of the community represented in our 2023 champions who will be able to bring different skill sets and reach new areas of the community for us.”

Their work will include going to selected Sammy D Foundation programs such as the foundations Monkey See Monkey Do program, aimed at limiting sporting field incidents on the field, and the Party Wise program which teaches young people of the dangers of alcohol-fueled violence.

For more information visit the www.sammydfoundation.org.au

For further information or photo and interview opportunities:

Media Contact:
Leigh McGrane | Against The Grain | 0438 699 795 | leigh@atgpr.com.au

 

 

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