Chocolate sold helps clubs more than just play

ONE bar of chocolate sold can make a big difference to local clubs.

On Tuesday 28 April, the Western Bulldogs and Mars Ballarat Community Football Initiative was launched.

The program supplies local football clubs with Mars products to on-sell and use the profits to re-invest into their operations.

This year the Ballarat Bulldogs Football Netball Club for all abilities joined teams from the Ballarat Football Netball League (BFNL) and Central Highlands Football League (CHFL) in receiving the products.

Zac Firth, whose father helped start the Ballarat Bulldogs, said programs such as this made a world of difference.

Now in their 10th year, the Bulldogs have 60 players across their football and netball teams.

“Any help really goes a long way and the support is amazing,” Firth said.

CHFL administrator Matt Newton said the initiative gave clubs a boost, while BFLW coordinator Chelsea Jew said it assisted teams in many ways.

“I think it just puts a smile on the kids’ faces,” she said. “Whether they get the Mars bars or we’re able to sell them through the canteens.

“It helps support them in every way, with equipment, with facilities, and it just helps continue the community football.”

Mars’s Scott Pettet said the program was an extension of the community support the company offered to Ballarat.

“The volunteers work tirelessly week in, week out,” he said. “So it’s our way of making a little bit of a contribution to sporting clubs in Ballarat by donating $30,000 worth of Mars product.”

Campbell Waring, the Western Bulldogs’ Ballarat engagement manager, said the initiative was a wonderful partnership between the club and Mars.

Evan Reeves and Gary Sternberg from the Ballarat Bulldogs said such support had a positive effect on the club. “And when you see how much it means to these players and what they get out of it, you’ll just keep coming back,” Sternberg said.