It was also announced that Leigh Montagna and Xavier Clarke would become Saints in the Community ambassadors. Leigh and Xavier have also undertaken important work that includes educating players on how to conduct lessons in schools and working closely in a hands-on role with our various community partners to help communicate their primary missions and objectives.
Tier 1: Saints Squad
In 2008, the Saints visited over 100 schools and over 4000 students as part of the Saints Squad program. Broken down into two components, the program caters for students of all ages and reinforces healthy choices and gives advice on leading a positive lifestyle.
The 'Healthy Choices' unit is aimed at primary schools and focuses on improving the health and nutritional choices of children. It encourages students to be aware of how their choices impact healthy lifestyles and also analyses who and what can influence their choices.
The 'Choices & Consequences' unit is geared toward secondary schools and encourages young people to accept responsibility for their choices and develop leadership qualities. The Saints provide tools and advice to assist in making positive choices and explore their role as friends and peers to support positive choices of others.
The Club obtains regular feedback from these programs and works continually to keep improving them and we look forward to continuing Saints Squad in 2009!
Tier 2: Saints Charities
The St Kilda Football Club is proudly aligned to four key charities.
• The Allanah and Madeline Foundation
• Make A Wish
• Sacred Heart Mission
• Starlight Children’s Foundation
More information on each of these charities can be found on their respective websites.
The Club proudly supports these partners via a number of initiatives including hospital visits, serving food at missions, visiting the homeless, memorabilia and merchandise donations, cash donations, appearances at functions, annual events and a myriad of other commitments that further strengthen our bond to the community.
All St Kilda players, coaches and staff are assigned to a particular charity that becomes their main community focus throughout the year. Our staff find the experience extremely rewarding and consider it a great outlet from football throughout what is a long and arduous season. We look forward to working hand in hand with our core charities in the future.
Click here to watch Matt Maguire make a young fan’s dream come true as featured on Before The Game
Tier 3: Saints Love Frankston
In 2008, the St Kilda Football Club made the announcement that it would be moving to Frankston in 2010. The Saints will shortly commence planning and development of an $11m elite training and administration facility at Belvedere Park which will give us the infrastructure our Club needs to keep being successful at the highest level and expand our brand to take ownership of Melbourne’s Bayside corridor.
The 'Saints Love Frankston' component of our community program seeks to cement our position in the region through our support of local community programs and initiatives. This work will be done in conjunction with Saints Squad activity and working with a myriad of local special interest groups and leaders..
The St Kilda Football Club will work hard throughout 2009 and beyond to establish strong links and relationships with various stakeholders in Frankston City and we very much look forward to working with the local community that we will soon become an important part of
