MFA NGEN took to the dodgeball courts across Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne for the 10th annual NGEN Charity Cup Dodgeball Tournament and raised $37,428 for UnLtd charity partner Bravehearts.
More than 400 members of the NGEN community got involved by selling raffle tickets for prizes generously donated by industry supporters, including a 15,000 feet tandem skydive donated by Skydive Australia, MCG Medallion in-season tickets from NOVA Entertainment, a 12-month Paramount+ subscription, tickets to Australia vs West Indies at the Gabba by the Seven Network, and many more.
The Charity Cup aims to raise much-needed funds for youth charities and provide an opportunity for members of NGEN—a community for those with less than five years of experience in the media industry—to come together and live up to the industry’s We Are The Changers purpose.
Team Melbourne
This year’s NGEN Charity Cup was made possible thanks to the support of MFA member agencies, which contributed financially towards the events: Atomic 212, Bohemia, dentsu, EssenceMediacom, Foundations, GroupM, Havas Media, Initiative, iProspect, Match & Wood, OMD, PHD, Slingshot, Mindshare, Spark Foundry, This is Flow, and Wavemaker.
Teams from both media agencies and media owners battled it out for the top spot in three categories – Dodgeball Champs, Best Dressed, and Most Money Raised.
Bravehearts, founded in 1997, is dedicated to the prevention and treatment of child sexual abuse. A $12 donation educates a child through Bravehearts’ education programme, Ditto’s Keep Safe Adventure Show, and $150 provides a counselling session to a child affected by sexual abuse.
Kylie Hewitt, Bravehearts national partnerships manager, said: “Bravehearts are incredibly grateful for the $37,453 raised at the NGEN Dodgeball Charity Cup. This generous contribution will significantly support our efforts to educate, empower and protect Australian children from sexual abuse.
“With these funds, we can provide 250 counselling sessions, or educate over 3,000 children about personal safety, or assist callers who need information and support when navigating child sexual abuse in their family for 37 weeks. Thank you to the MFA and NGEN, everyone who fundraised, participated and donated; your support makes a real difference.”
Melanie Aslanidis, MFA’s head of NGEN, said: “Once again, NGENers brought enormous enthusiasm and commitment to the task of fundraising for the NGEN Charity Cup, organising raffles, cake sales and office pyjama days, all before even stepping onto the dodgeball courts and putting their bodies on the line.
“Being able to have a meaningful impact on our chosen charity is incredibly rewarding for NGENers and the NGEN team, and I’m so proud to be supporting Bravehearts to help continue their vital work. A heartfelt thank you to everyone for their amazing efforts.”
Team Brisbane
–
Top image: Team Sydney