ATP signs sponsorship deal with Souths

South Cares is the charitable arm of the South Sydney Rabbitohs that assists disadvantaged youth and their families in the South Sydney district through the delivery of education, training and employment programs. In the financial year of 2009 Souths Cares contributed over 1,600 hours to schools such as Alexandria Park Community School, Green Square, La Perouse Primary and Matraville Sports High School and their communities, as well as workplace mentoring programs and other activities in the South Sydney district and beyond.

“Souths Cares is an enormous asset to the community,” ATP Managing Director Roy Wakelin-King said. “The reach of Souths Cares is immeasurable. These players and volunteers make fundamental differences to the lives of kids and their families with little recognition. This is an opportunity to acknowledge the crucial work they perform in this vibrant and dynamic part of South Sydney.”

Under the sponsorship arrangement the ATP will also receive naming rights to the Rabbitohs’ Performance Centre at Redfern Oval, which will now be referred to as the Australian Technology Park Performance Centre.

The ATP will become a senior partner of the South Sydney Rabbitohs and ATP signage will appear at the Australian Technology Park Performance Centre at Redfern Oval and at South Sydney Rabbitohs’ home games. In addition select South Sydney Rabbitohs events will be held in the Redfern-Waterloo community at the Australian Technology Park.

“ATP is looking to become a stronger community member,” Mr Wakelin-King said. “We are a major employer and key part of the economic engine room in the Redfern-Waterloo area, and we want to make sure that we also give help to those in need within the community. Our relationship with Souths Cares will be a key part of this strategy.”

Rabbitohs CEO and Souths Cares board member Shane Richardson said partnering with a fellow member of the South Sydney business community makes sense when assisting the local community.

“The Australian Technology Park is one of the leading organisations in the heart of the South Sydney district, so for Souths Cares to have an opportunity to partner with them was an opportunity that we jumped at,” Mr Richardson said. “Our players and staff have made a big impact on the local community and having the backing of the Australian Technology Park will allow Souths Cares to take the next steps with the Teachers’ Aide and Workplace Mentoring programs which are touching our people now.

“Redfern Oval will now house the Australian Technology Park Performance Centre, with our first big event for 2010 at Redfern Oval coming up on Sunday February 7 when we play the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in our first trial match of 2010. Last year our game against the Wests Tigers was sold-out to our Ticketed Members and we are on track to sell-out again in 2010.

“We started training for the new season at the Australian Technology Park Performance Centre on Monday and we’re looking forward to providing our players with the best training facilities, as well as our community with the best support through Souths Cares’ programs, all with the backing of the Australian Technology Park.”

Source: South Sydney Herald December 2009 www.southsydneyherald.com.au