Coles has been giving out sports equipment grants to various community sports clubs such as Bracken Ridge Little Athletics, to help purchase new equipment for practice and training.
Bracken Ridge Little Athletics was given the grant in 2021, in the third round out of six rounds for the year. They used the money to buy a high jump mat cover and stands and defibrillator.
Funds for the grants have been raised from specially marked reusable bags designed by Aussie kids, as well as the sale of bananas sold at Coles’ supermarkets on National Banana Day in May, with 10 cents from every 1 kg sold going to the Little Athletics Community Fund.
The funding brings Coles’ allocation of sports equipment grants to over $2 million in three years and comes at a time when community sports clubs continue to feel the effects of COVID-19.
Coles CEO Steven Cain said the Coles Little Athletics Community Fund is just one way Coles is supporting local communities and helping young Australians to live healthier, happier lives.
“We know it’s been a very challenging 18 months for communities across Australia who thrive on grassroots sport,” he said.
“Little Athletics plays a vital role in not just producing elite athletes like our Coles ambassadors Sally Pearson and Brandon Starc, but also by encouraging kids to be active and healthy.”
In addition to providing more than $2 million in equipment grants, Coles has donated more than 3.6 million bananas to Little Athletics centres since 2017.
Coles will be rolling out more funding for Little Athletics in 2022. To learn more about the successful recipients, check out Little Athletics Fund.
