Knox Little Athletics Centre has been given a much-needed funding boost for its upcoming season thanks to a $4,800 grant from Coles.
Knox LAC was one of 158 grassroots sports club across Australia to share in $521,000 for sports equipment from the latest round of the Coles Little Athletics Community Fund.
It is the single largest round of grants distributed to Little Athletics centres since the Fund was established two years ago to support little athletes hoping to follow in the footsteps of champions like Sally Pearson and Brandon Starc.
The grant comes amid research from the Australian Sports Foundation in July which found that over 16,000 local sports clubs were at risk of closing due to reduced revenues and increased costs arising from COVID-19.
Our President David Kearsley said the grant to purchase new radios, speakers and microphones will help get its athletes and volunteers back on track after a tough year.“The grant will have a huge impact to our centre. The equipment will enable our centre to run competitions more efficiently, improving the experience of both volunteers and athletes,” he said.
Coles State General Manager Mark O’Connor said Coles was pleased to support Knox’s budding athletes and parent volunteers. “We know it’s been a difficult six months for everyone involved in community sport, particularly little athletes. We hope news of this grant of more than $4,800 to Knox Little Athletics centre will give their athletes, families and volunteers a morale boost ahead of the new season,” he said. “Coles is passionate about helping kids lead healthier, happier lives. That’s why we’re delighted to have raised more than $363,000 in Victoria and $1.68 million nationally for local sports clubs through the Coles Little Athletics Community Fund in just two years.”
Funds for the grant are raised through the sale of specially marked chiller bags designed by Aussie kids, with ten per cent of every bag sold directed to the Coles Little Athletics Community Fund. Coles has raised more than $1.68 million to 376 Little Athletics centres across the country since November 2018.
Knox LAC thanks Coles for supporting Little Athletics and providing the grant to our centre.
