The 2012/13 A-League season saw the Newcastle Jets spend more time in the Hunter community than ever before.
The Hunter Ports Newcastle Jets were involved in the community more than ever before in 2012/13 as the Club endeavoured to make a positive and lasting impact in the Hunter and Northern NSW region.
While the Jets may have narrowly missed out on qualifying for the A-League finals, from a community perspective the 2012/13 season was a huge success.
On top of their training and playing commitments, the Jets- players and coaching staff repeatedly took the time to engage with as many people in need as possible, while the Club continued to strengthen its relationships with its numerous charity partners.
In 2012/13 the Jets more than trebled their player appearance time and community engagement hours compared to last season, an increase of 174 hours to 665 hours.
The players supported local junior soccer clubs in events such as junior football Gala Days, fundraising dinners, presentation evenings, registration days, season launches and mini World Cup tournaments.
The Jets donated over $13,000 worth of merchandise to schools and charity organisations for the 2012/13 Season. Contributing to this sum were 30 signed Jets jerseys that were donated to various worthy causes.
For each home game the Jets donate tickets and corporate facilities to support a number of local and national charities. The donation of these tickets allowed schools and organisations Down Syndrome NSW Hunter Region, Aspect Waratah West Public School, CanTeen Australia, Hunter Breast Cancer Foundation, The Big Issue Street Soccer Program to attend games.
The Club also donated a Corporate Suite complete with catering at individual Jets games to support charities such as John Hunter Children-s Hospital, Ronald McDonald House Newcastle, Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, Samaritans, Castle Personnel, PCYC (Youth Offenders Program), Hunter Life Education, Wesley Mission.
The Jets Charity Partners were well supported throughout the 2012/13 Season. John Hunter Children-s Hospital (JHCH), Ronald McDonald House Newcastle (RMHC) and Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service (WRHS) received regular visits from the team.
The Jets- community program focuses on four key areas – charity, education, culture, junior development. The Club also supports four charity causes -children and young people, health and well being, welfare/relief of poverty, and emergency services.
The Jets activities include in-schools education programs, support of charity and community fundraising events, advocacy and awareness raising, donation of player and coaching staff time, donation of merchandise, donation of tickets to matches, and junior development programs.
The Newcastle Jets aim to continue to increasing their engagement with the Hunter community in 2013/14.
