Press Release: Harcourts
For immediate release
$113,000 donation helps grow sport skills
17 September 2015
You’d be hard-pressed to find kids who enjoy their sport more than those who are part of the Papatoetoe United adapted
football programme.
The programme is one of hundreds of community groups around the country who has benefited from the support of the
Halberg Disability Sport Foundation, including Activity Fund grants for its participants to participate in the weekly training sessions.
Those grants have been given a massive boost with a $113,000 donation by the Harcourts Foundation from funds raised at
the recent Halberg Sport for Life dinner.
The programme currently has five participants made up of primary school aged boys and girls, who are ambulant or use a
walker or stick for mobility, train weekly with a committed volunteer coaching team to improve their football skills at
Kolmer Sports Centre in Papatoetoe, Auckland.
Paul Ralph, one of the head coaches with Papatoetoe United Football junior club, says all the coaches and assistants who
volunteer to help with each training session absolutely love doing it.
“These kids are amazing. We get so much out of doing it. Just seeing the looks on their faces is amazing,” Paul says.
Halberg Disability Sport Adviser Maia Lewis worked with the Papatoetoe United Football club to set up the programme
after a parent approached her about her son finding it hard to keep up in a mainstream football programme. She says
support by the Harcourts Foundation helps Halberg meet these kind of needs in communities.
“This is a good example of how a need is identified in a community by someone in that community, and we can help meet
that need through our Activity Fund grants programme,” Maia says.
The Harcourts Foundation is an official partner of the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation.
In presenting the donation, Harcourts NZ CEO Hayden Duncan said watching the squad practice was an inspiration and a
clear reminder of why it was so important to support the work of Halberg.
“It’s not just how much fun these kids are having doing something they might not otherwise be able to try, but it’s also
humbling to see how much time and energy the coaching staff and organisers put into working with them.
“When you look at it that way, the work the Harcourts Foundation does to raise money for Halberg seems like the easy
part,” he says.
Harcourts Foundation ambassador Emma Revell says the partnership between the Harcourts Foundation and Halberg was formed
after many of the Harcourts team witnessed first-hand the incredible difference the sporting organisation makes to the
lives of disabled Kiwis and their families.
“To see the positive affect it has on these kids is awe-inspiring. To see them be able to fulfil their potential and
grow in confidence makes our support of the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation a simple decision.”
About the Harcourts Foundation
Harcourts launched Harcourts Foundation in 2008 and our promise is simple; to provide support that helps, grows and
enriches our communities. With 100% of the funds raised going straight to the charities who need it most, we’ve been
able to provide grants totaling more than $3 million to support local community groups as well as the Halberg Disability
Sport Foundation. We’re incredibly proud of the work the Harcourts Foundation and its many supporters are doing to help
to change lives and make dreams come true.
About the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation
The Halberg Disability Sport Foundation is a charitable organisation founded in 1963 by Olympic legend, Sir Murray
Halberg (ONZ) on the belief that all people, regardless of their ability, should have equal opportunity to enhance their
lives through sport and recreation.
The Halberg Disability Sport Foundation employs 10 Disability Sport Advisers (DSAs) nationwide. These dedicated, highly
skilled, expert field staff work with schools, sport and recreation organisations, facilities and clubs to provide
training and support to ensure inclusive programmes and events can be provided. The Foundation also has an AllSports
Activity Fund which provides grants to physically disabled young people (under 21 years) to help cover the costs of
adaptive equipment, lessons and camps.