The QBE Foundation, the charitable arm of Australia’s largest global insurer, has donated $10,000 to the GO Foundation (GO) in support of their work championing Indigenous education and mission to expand their scholarship program.
GO founders and Swans greats Adam Goodes and Michael O'Loughlin were presented with the donation at the SCG on Friday following the Swans’ Marn Grook match which formed part of the Sir Douglas Nicholls Indigenous round.
QBE Foundation Chairperson Sally Kincaid said the donation was part of QBE’s mission to make a real difference to the communities it operates within and was another example of the strong relationship QBE maintains with GO and the Swans community.
“We strive to be the insurer that builds the strongest relationships with customers – of all backgrounds and cultures and, as one of Australia's largest insurers of Indigenous communities, we've long been committed supporting and celebrating Indigenous Australians,” Kincaid said.
“The GO Foundation does wonderful work providing better futures for young Indigenous Australians and we are proud to support such a worthwhile cause.
“Our long-time relationship with Adam Goodes and Michael O'Loughlin at GO and of course the broader Swans club, also make the GO Foundation a fitting choice for the grant.”
Co-Founder and Non-Executive Director of GO Michael O’Loughlin said the grant would directly fund the expansion of their scholarship program to public schools with plans to issue the first public school scholarships in 2018.
“The QBE Foundation has been a strong supporter of the GO Foundation since the beginning.
“We are thrilled to be the recipient of their continued strong support.
“Support from organisations like QBE help the GO Foundation provide more opportunities to Indigenous youth and through education give them a brighter future.
“This donation will be used to extend the GO Foundation scholarship program for the first time into public schools.”
QBE LMI CEO Phil White presents a $10,000 cheque to GO Foundation co-founder and non-executive director Michael O'Loughlin during half-time of Friday night's Marn Grook at the SCG.
The donation presentation took place at the Sir Douglas Nicholls Indigenous round which is an annual AFL initiative that formally recognises and celebrates Indigenous Australian players and culture.
The Swans also showed their support for the round by kicking off the match by running through a GO banner and wearing special edition Indigenous themed guernseys on the night.
Sydney Swans CEO Andrew Ireland said the club commended the generosity of QBE.
“The QBE Foundation’s generous donation of $10,000 to the GO Foundation will make a huge difference for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students,” Ireland said.
The donation is part of more than $500,000 donated and hundreds of man hours of support provided to charitable causes by the QBE Foundation this year alone.
