The club was specifically praised for its innovative community and educational facility The Huddle and recent alignment with World Vision.
"I commend North Melbourne for partnering with World Vision. Who'd have thought 20-years ago there'd be a club down at Arden Street with a classroom engaging the community," AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou said.
“The Huddle is exactly what businesses should be involved with.”
World Vision Australia CEO Tim Costello echoed those sentiments in front of almost one-hundred business leaders, members of the media and industry experts.
“Community is the foundation upon which prosperity is built. The Huddle is a fantastic initiative and I applaud North Melbourne for the work they’re doing.
“The Huddle is a great example of what can be achieved when you bring sport and people together to engage in the community.
“We applaud them (North Melbourne) for saying no to certain things like pokies and gambling.”
Demetriou and Costello were joined on stage by KPMG National Chairman Peter Nash, who encouraged the club’s aim to connect with the community even further.
“Groups like The Huddle are bringing people together through sport and the community,” Nash said.
“Business needs to be connected into the community and good CSR is an important way of doing this.”
Acting Kangaroos CEO Cam Vale said the club was now on the lookout for more support in the CSR space.
“We’re not saying we’re the experts in this area of CSR but we want to be one of the leaders in CSR in sport. True CSR is about engaging communities in a meaningful way and encouraging strong community growth.
“We are looking for support now from the business community to partner with us.”
Demetriou says now is the perfect time for an organisation to get involved.
“Now is exactly the time businesses should be investing in CSR and giving back to the community,” he commented.
In its fourth year, The Huddle’s aim is to is to enhance social cohesion by addressing youth disengagement in the local area and to re-define the way in which sporting organisations interact with their communities.
Vale acknowledged those who have already thrown their weight behind the club’s community driven projects and initiatives.
“Without the support of the Scanlon foundation this club wouldn’t have been able to make this great decision and without their support it wouldn’t have been possible.”
For more information about The Huddle, click here.
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| The CSR event at Etihad Stadium |
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| Andrew Demetriou, Peter Nash and Tim Costello |
North Melbourne v Adelaide Crows
Sunday June 24, 2012 - 4.40pm
Etihad Stadium
Gates open at 3pm.
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