Collingwood is pleased to announce that its upcoming AAMI Community Series match against Richmond will be played for the inaugural Charity Shield.
The Charity Shield game will take place at Ikon Park on Tuesday, February 27 at 6.40pm, with fundraising efforts surrounding the match going towards Foodbank.
Foodbank currently feeds 57,000 Victorians daily, the highest number seen across 93 years of the organisation providing food relief.
Frighteningly, in 628,000 homes around Victoria, families are going days without eating – with nearly half of all households unable to afford the food that keeps themselves and their kids healthy.
Collingwood CEO Craig Kelly said the coming together of the two teams aims to make a significant difference to the lives of those in need.
“The Charity Shield match is a special opportunity for our Club to join forces with Richmond and show support for a very important cause,” Kelly said.
“The match encourages the Magpie Army and Richmond’s fans to come together for something bigger than football.
“We know that for many people it is a daily struggle to put food on the table but from this match, we look to raise important funds for those in need of food relief and hope that this initiative will make a significant difference to the lives of many.”
Richmond CEO Brendon Gale said that Richmond and Collingwood, two of football’s biggest clubs, intended to make the Charity Shield an annual pre-season game, with funds going each year towards those that need it the most.
“Richmond and Collingwood, as the two geographically closest teams in the competition, have long held a healthy rivalry, but through the Charity Shield, we will be bringing our Club’s and our fanbases together,” he said.
“Many people across the community are doing it tough, and something as simple as putting food on the table is challenging.
“Collectively, Richmond, Collingwood, and our members and supporters can make a significant difference to this, and we intend to do that by packing out Ikon Park later this month.”
Foodbank Victoria CEO Dave McNamara said that families sacrificed food to keep a roof over their heads.
“We feed 57,000 Victorians in need every single day. That’s more than a packed Marvel stadium. We see people from all walks of life and pretty much every one of them has a footy team they love.
Thanks to the Tigers and the Pies and their amazing commitment to the Charity Shield, we can make sure there’ll be no one going without this footy season. Every dollar donated is two meals created. It’s that simple.”
More information on the AAMI Community Series match against Richmond can be found here.
