The West Coast Eagles Football Club and BHP Billiton have recently been recognised with an Australian Marketing Institute (AMI) state award in the category of corporate social responsibility for their 'Inspiring Education Through Sport' initiative.
The West Coast Eagles' community partnership with BHP Billiton has won the WA award and will now proceed through to the national final, with the winner announced at the AMI gala dinner on Wednesday, October 24 in Melbourne.
The AMI Awards are presented to those organisations who have achieved extraordinary success from innovative and effective marketing practices. The corporate social responsibility category, which the West Coast Eagles and BHP have won for WA, recognises organisations that demonstrate positive community or social benefit through activities aimed at contributing to the broader community.
West Coast Eagles chief executive Trevor Nisbett says the club is thrilled to be recognised for its corporate social responsibility efforts.
“The club is extremely honoured to receive a state AMI award, and are even more proud that it is in recognition of our community endeavours,” Nisbett said.
“The club recognises its position as a social and community leader, and as such, strives to make a positive and lasting contribution in the WA community. Thanks to the support of BHP Billiton, we are able to continually do so.
“In partnership with BHP, we launched our Eagles in the Community initiative in 2005, with the view to harness the popularity of football as a tool to engage with younger generations and deliver lasting community benefits.
“Through our Eagles in the Community programs, we are now reaching more than 50,000 students and 500 schools across WA each year, with demonstrably positive educational outcomes.
“The club and BHP Billiton are extremely proud of the positive community outcomes we are achieving, and are thrilled that the AMI has acknowledged this contribution," Nisbett added.
“At BHP Billiton, we realise that to make a true and sustainable difference, we must encourage and support education; something that our partnership with the West Coast Eagles makes possible by inspiring education through sport” said Richard O’Connell, Head of Community and Indigenous Affairs, BHP Billiton Iron Ore.
