Recently retired Sydney Swans player Jared Crouch has won the 2009 AFL Foundation Community Leadership Award.
Jared has worked tirelessly with a number of organisations including Oncology Children's Foundation, Redkite, the Heart Foundation and Royal Women’s Hospital, as well as managing the Sydney Swans TeamSWANS community engagement program.
He has received $10,000 from the AFL Foundation which will be donated to the Oncology Children’s Foundation (OCF).
AFL Foundation CEO Jason Mifsud said Jared is determined to make a genuine difference in the community, and particularly supports young people who are faced with life-threatening illnesses and other challenges.
“Jared is an outstanding and deserving recipient of the AFL Foundation Community Leadership Award.
“He has chosen to dedicate so much of his time to a number of worthy charities, including the Oncology Children’s Foundation, to raise awareness and much needed funds.
“Since his playing debut in 1998, Jared has shown great commitment on the field as a player and off the field as a community leader,” said Mifsud.
Also an ambassador for the Heart Foundation, Jared ran the 2007 New York marathon in the AFL off-season raising $20,000 for life-saving research into cardiovascular disease. The following year (2008), he was named as World Youth Day ambassador.
The premiership player announced his retirement at the end of the 2009 season, his 14th at the Sydney Swans, having played 223 games and kicking 51 goals.
Jared leaves the game proud of his football achievements, but equally proud of the role football has allowed him to play in the community.
“Rightly or wrongly, being a footballer gives you a bigger voice and the ability to raise the profile of some very important issues.
“As much as I enjoyed my time on the field, what I take away from the game most is the people I’ve been lucky enough to meet and in some way been able to help. As I move on to the next stage of my life I look forward to exploring new ways to have a positive influence on people's lives,” Crouch said.
OCF Chief Executive, Ross Lewis thanked Crouch for his contribution to the Foundation.
“Jared is a talented footballer and has great community spirit. He is very deserving of this award and I thank him on behalf of all at the Oncology Children’s Foundation for choosing to donate to us.
"The funds will be directed to cutting-edge research programs across the country."
The AFL Foundation Community Leadership Award recognises player contributions to the community and charitable organisations. The award is judged by the AFL Foundation Board and the winner is presented with $10,000 to donate to his chosen charity.
The AFL Foundation is proud to acknowledge one of football’s finest traditions, the voluntary commitment of players to community and charitable groups.
The award criteria was as follows:
• Each Club can nominate one player.
• This player must have shown outstanding leadership and excellence in making a voluntary commitment to the community and charitable organisations during 2009.
• The work the nominee is being nominated for must be volunteer work only. They should not be nominated for paid work.
• Each nomination should be accompanied by a letter of endorsement from the Club outlining the player’s contribution and its community impact.
• The letter supporting the nomination can include testimonials from people or organisations that have benefited from the players contribution.
Congratulations Jared Crouch.
