The Illawarra Academy of Sport held our 2016 Partner Appreciation Networking Afternoon on Friday 24th June at Wollongong Golf Club.
The Afternoon brought together Athletes, Coaches, Directors, Sponsors, Partners and various Stakeholders, past and present, to acknowledge their valuable contribution made in supporting young sporting citizens in their pursuit of excellence.
IAS General Manager Shannon Fraser said “A Not For Profit Community Organisation such as the llawarra Academy of Sport cannot survive without the generous support by our exceptional Partners & Sponsors. For this we are truly grateful.”
The Event highlight for all in attendance was the interview of IAS Graduate, 2010 IAS Swimmer of the Year, 2012 Olympian and now qualified and Rio Bound 2016 Olympian Jarrod Poort, by WIN News Reporter and IAS advocate Tim Robinson.
Jarrod gave great insight in to his training and preparation for the Olympics while outlining the grounding that he received while a Scholarship Athlete with the Illawarra Academy of Sport and how that has help him achieve success throughout his career.
The Chairman of the BlueScopeWIN Community Partners program, Bill Wilkins responded on behalf of all Academy Sponsors and Partners.
BHP Steel, BlueScope and more recently BlueScopreWIN Community Partners have supported the Academy for 29 years and the partnership continues to go from strength to strength.
“We’re about youth, education, arts and culture, and we support the Academy because it offers not just sports training but additional programs that help young people become better citizens.”
Mr Wilkins said the sponsorship also highlighted BlueScopeWIN’s historic ties to the Illawarra community and encouraged other businesses to get behind the Illawarra Academy of Sport.
“Academy sponsorships are handled very professionally, sponsors are kept informed, always receive great acknowledgment, and there’s a sense of pride in the Illawarra athletes that the Academy produces,” he said.
