St Kilda Football Club and valued partner of six years Pepper Money have celebrated their new two-year partnership renewal with the official launch of the Real Life Fund.
The community grant program will see $30,000 available for local sporting and recreation groups, in addition to existing community program work supported by Pepper Money.
The Real Life Fund is centered around three key community streams: Footy for All, Inclusion & Diversity, and Mental Health. Clubs and groups will be able to apply for grants of up to $5,000 to execute programs or projects throughout the 2022 calendar year.
“We’re thrilled to have Pepper Money renew its co-principal partnership with us for another two years and we couldn’t think of a better way to mark the occasion than to launch this community fund,” St Kilda CEO Matt Finnis said.
“We know that there are many local community groups who have been impacted by the pandemic, particularly from a financial and wellbeing perspective, so to come together with Pepper Money to help empower these groups to get back to what they do best is really exciting,”
“Wherever we go in the community, Pepper Money is right there with us; highlighted through their consistent support of our community initiatives including Maddie’s Match, Spud’s Game, our Indigenous education program Point and Be Proud, our blind and wheelchair teams and our female coaching program.”
St Kilda Wheelchair Football Captain, Ryan Smith says that Pepper Money’s contribution to the team has been fantastic.
“Pepper Money values my team just as much as any other part of the club. Their support has been incredible and we look forward to working with them for many years to come,” Smith said.
Pepper Money’s Chief Executive Officer Australia and New Zealand, Mario Rehayem highlighted the strong synergy of the partnership with the Pepper Money mission.
“As a business built on the pursuit of helping people succeed, we see people for who they are, not for what their situation is. Our goal is to help make dreams real – and our Real Life Fund is an important extension and demonstration of the Pepper Money mission,” Rehayem said.
Pepper Money’s Head of Marketing, Sarah Pikardt explained how the brand has leveraged the power of sport to bring local communities together to support and inspire each other.
“Our highly valued relationship with St Kilda Football Club has helped us reinforce our ‘real life’ message – the highs, lows, and unexpected moments of sport and everyday life. We want people to see that a moment in time doesn’t define you, and you can go on to achieve inspiring things,” Pikardt said.
Pepper Money will continue to be seen on the famous red, white, and black guernsey, moving to the front of the away guernsey and the upper back of the Saints’ home strip for 2022.
Applications for the Real Life Fund are now open and can be made until 31 December 2021. For more information or to submit an application, visit www.saints.com.au/reallifefund
