Australian professional players will encourage the football community to ‘Play it Forward’ in May and contribute to five causes through the PFA’s charity arm, the Footballers’ Trust.
The initiative will raise vital funding for Australia’s national football teams for players with cerebral palsy, the Pararoos and ParaMatildas, Indigenous youth football program John Moriarty Football, LGBTIQ+ organisation Pride Cup and the Australian Conservation Foundation.
PFA Co-Chief Executive Kathryn Gill said the ‘Play it Forward’ in May campaign would become an annual giving initiative to ensure the organisation, professional footballers and the Australian football community, could give back to causes, charities and social issues close to their hearts.
“There are so many wonderful causes that players care about and are interested in, whether it’s Indigenous participation, funding for our amazing Pararoos and Paramatildas, the environment or ensuring the incredible work of Pride Cup is enhanced,” Gill said.
“Footballers’ Trust provides a simple platform not just for the players to donate to but the whole Australian football community to contribute to, with every cent donated reinvested back into these amazing community and football initiatives.”
Footballers’ Trust continues the work of PFA members taking on positions of social leadership, including human rights advocacy, funding for Indigenous programs, fundraising for the recovery efforts associated with the Australian bushfires and the 2022 floods, and diversity and inclusion programs.
Since its establishment in 2019, Footballers’ Trust has donated over $100,000 to football organisations including Australian Blind Football and Sunshine Coast Indigenous Football, and various player-selected charities such as the Leukemia Foundation, Peter McCallum Cancer Centre, WIRES, the Kane Sheppard (KS) Foundation and the Mark Hughes Foundation.
Players and members of the Australian football community can select from the following five charities to donate to, or donate directly to the Footballers’ Trust, which will continue to allocate funding to player-selected initiatives.
The Pararoos and ParaMatildas National Football Teams
The Pararoos and ParaMatildas are Australia’s national football team for players with cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury or symptoms of stroke. Both teams are currently competing at their respective 2022 IFCPF World Cups. donations will go directly to supporting national team training camps, coaching, sports science, and tournament costs to ensure that the teams have the best possible chance to represent Australia on the world stage now and into the future.
John Moriarty Football
John Moriarty Football (JMF) is Australia’s longest-running and most successful Indigenous football initiative for 2-18 year olds and helps to enable Aboriginal families and communities to unlock their children’s potential. JMF’s transformational skills program uses football for talent and positive change and has a track record of improving school attendance and achieving resilient, healthier outcomes for some of Australia’s most remote Indigenous communities.
Give to John Moriarty Football
Pride Cup
Working with all levels of sport to build a world where every LGBTI+ person feels included, accepted and proud to be who they are, Pride Cup helps to create lasting positive change in communities and make sport safe, welcoming and fun for LGBTI+ people.
Australian Conservation Foundation
Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) is Australia’s national environment organisation which aims to create a world where forests, rivers, people and wildlife thrive – now and for future generations. The ACF is proudly independent and funded by donations from their community.
Give to the Australian Conservation Foundation
Footballers’ Trust
Inspired by the leadership of generations of Australian footballers, Footballers’ Trust provides a platform for today’s players to ‘play it forward’ and contribute directly to the causes that inspire them. The Footballers’ Trust continues the work of PFA members taking on positions of social leadership
Give to the Footballers’ Trust
Through this platform the PFA will create a group donation to JMF on behalf of PFA Members with all contributions – whether $5 or $10, or more – going towards the total commitment from the PFA for greater impact.
Footballers Trust is a registered deductible gift recipient and donations over $2 are tax deductible.
