Hawks' partnership with SYFS inspires youth

The Illawarra Hawks' commitment to the community continues to grow, highlighted by them once again having Southern Youth and Family Services (SYFS) as their official charity partner.

SYFS, which has been with the foundation club since the 2016-17 season, is an organisation that supports and cares for disadvantaged children, young people, adults and families - including those who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness and their families. 

“After taking some of our young people to some live sports games and seeing how engaged they were, we approached the Hawks about how beneficial partnering with a national sports club that is 100 per cent committed to the Illawarra community would be,” SYFS partnership and activities liaison/youth support worker Jason Saladino.

“Our organisation's profile has definitely benefited from being aligned with the Hawks, be being able to leverage our relationship to include fundraising initiatives which have had a tangible impact on the money we are able to raise to run our programs and benefit the lives of our disadvantaged young people.

“The Hawks support of Ride4Rotary and the Pepper Money Real Life Stories grant, which has enabled us to put four young SYFS clients through their RSA courses to further their chances of finding employment.”

On top of those, numerous Hawks players, coaches and club ambassadors attend SYFS events, speaking to the youth about resiliency and overcoming hardships, as well as giving their clients behind the scenes game day experiences.

“For those facing more barriers in life than most, these opportunities are truly special and so significant in helping to create hope and joy during tough times,” Saladino said.

Saladino credits the two organisation’s similarities as one of the main reasons their long-standing relationship continues to go from strength to strength.

“The club has been able to adapt and survive even in the face of adversity, thanks in part to the support of the local community and given SYFS is a charity, there are definite synergies there,” he said.

“The club’s challenges, its resilience and constant need to adapt and improve typify the struggles of many of the young people and families that we support along with those we face as a community service.”

Saladino also went on to say how impressed he’s been with the Hawks new ownership group, appreciating their need for community engagement.

“To be able to balance the community and prioritise it alongside the need to build a competitive roster and deliver on the court is a challenge the club administrators of the past have not always managed,” he said.

“To invest in the community resources and staffing the club now has, is critical to its overall success and the result is many Illawarra based NFPs like SYFS, who can enjoy the benefits of partnering with the Hawks as a club they can have faith in and be proud of.”

Hawks co-owner and Dorry Kordahi is ecstatic to hear the impact our club is having on partners like SYFS.

“As an organisation, we are committed to serving and making the Illawarra region proud, so to hear the comments about the impact the Hawks have had on the youth of SYFS is fantastic,” Kordahi said.

“Our partnership has grown over the years and we hope to inspire more people to be the best person they can be, whether that is in basketball or another career path.”

To find out more about how you too can become a corporate partner, email partnerships@hawks.com.au.