National Bank gives $100,000 to grassroots cricket

Media Release

30 March 2011

National Bank gives $100,000 to grassroots cricket

Crickets clubs, players and fans throughout the country have scored a six by getting a share of $100,000 in grants from the National Cricket Club Grant Scheme, a National Bank initiative.

Seventy-six applicants received cricket related assistance grants. More than 225 applications were received.

There were three major winners of assistance valued at $4,000, three winners of gear worth $3,000, five worth $2,500 and eight worth $2,000. The rest of the 61 grants came from the grants pool. The majority of the winners were schools and cricket clubs.

The National Bank’s Head of Sponsorship Sue McGregor says that the majority of applications were from schools and cricket clubs in desperate need of gear.

“Heathcote Valley School in Christchurch received $3,000 for gear for its junior cricket team. The school’s main fundraising event for new gear was cancelled last year due to the Christchurch earthquake in September”.

“Auckland recipients, the Boiled Cabbage Grey Power team, which have been playing cricket together for 16 years, received a grant for new cricket uniforms. The team said that while they felt they could no longer play cricket that well, they still wanted to look the part to impress their kids….before getting thrashed by the younger opposition,” says Ms McGregor.

The Waimea College Cricket team, Hamilton’s St Joseph’s School, and Dunedin’s Kavanagh College Cricket Club each received a $4,000 grant for laying new astro-turf.

“St Joseph’s School said their concrete pad needed a mat as the ball could no longer bounce and the players scrape their knees on the rough surface. The coach believes the team has some up and coming BLACKCAPS so a grant from The National Bank will help to mentor them.”

The Hibiscus Coast cricket team will receive sun shelters valued at up to $2,000. “The club has grown rapidly reflecting the population growth on the Hibiscus Coast. There were now 13 teams playing on grounds offering very little shade. The long hot days this summer have really put the ‘heat’ on the players and they’ve asked for some shade.”

A number of families asked for gear to play together in the backyard. It had become a tradition in one family, playing together since 1978. The National Bank is proud to support that.”

Grants were awarded by a panel of judges. All entries are shown online where the public had the opportunity to vote for their favourite. More than 11,000 votes were made and taken into consideration in judging.

The National Bank has been the Official Bank of New Zealand Cricket and sponsor of The National Bank Series (the home international series) for 12 years.

Some of the larger grant recipients included:

Waimea College Cricket team - Relaying of two new astro-turf cricket lanes in their school cricket nets.

St Joseph’s School in Hamilton – Relaying of astro-turf on one lane in their school net and their cricket pitch.

Kavanagh College Cricket Club in Dunedin – Relaying of two new astro-turf cricket lanes in their school cricket nets.

Wellington’s Sri Lankan Sports Club - $3,000 worth of playing gear and coaching equipment.

Hamilton’s Te Rapa School - $3,000 worth of playing gear and coaching equipment.
Heathcote Valley School in Christchurch – 2 Junior Bags of cricket gear containing cricket gear valued at $3,000.

ends

© Scoop Media