Members of the MFA NGEN community have once again donned activewear to take on colleagues and rivals in a series of competitive dodgeball matches – all in the name of raising more than $20,000 for youth-focused charities BackTrack and Positive Humans Movement.
Three energetic matches were held in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane as part of the annual NGEN Charity Cup Dodgeball tournament, now in its sixth year.
The aim of the tournament is to raise much-needed funds for youth charities as well as provide an opportunity for members of NGEN – a community for those with less than five years’ experience in the media industry – to come together for a round of teamwork and networking with their peers.
The Dodgeball winners were Seven Affiliate Sales (Brisbane), OMD (Sydney) and Amplifi (Melbourne), while the coveted Charity Cup for the most funds raised was awarded to the team from News Corp Brisbane for raising $1,192. OMD Sydney was a close second with $1,098.15 raised.
A total of $20,000 raised this year will go to BackTrack YouthWorks ($15,000) and Positive Humans Movement ($5,000).
BackTrack, an UnLtd charity partner, works with kids aged between 12 and 18 who are having a hard time, who would otherwise fall through the tracks.
Brisbane-based Positive Humans Movement aims to actively engage with, and educate, school-aged students on positive behaviours to break the cycle of domestic violence.
Head of NGEN, Kathleen Beddoes said: “It’s wonderful to see the energy and enthusiasm NGENers bring to helping raise funds for important social causes and to dodging fast-moving balls on the court!
“The NGEN Charity Cup Dodgeball tournament is a meaningful project that makes a real impact on the work of our chosen charities and we are proud to be involved.”
BackTrack engagement & partnerships director, Jane Watson added: “We are so grateful for all the NGENers for raising much-needed funds for BackTrack.
“BackTrack supports youth who are having a hard time and who have fallen through the cracks.
“We help them get ‘back on track’ and have three jobs – keeping kids alive, out of jail and helping them chase their hopes and dreams.”
Watson added: “The money raised will go a long way to help us achieve those important goals.
“From all of us at BackTrack, thank you to everyone who fundraised, donated and dodged those balls!”
Positive Humans Movement co-founder & director, Belinda Eccles said: “From all of the Positive Humans team, we would like to say a big thank you to all the NGENers who took part in this year’s Dodgeball Charity Cup and for supporting our cause.
“Positive Humans’ mission is to break the cycle of domestic violence and bullying through purpose-built immersive programs and bespoke face-to-face workshops.
“We are giving our youth the tools necessary to make positive relationship decisions and the ability to understand when a situation is negative and how they can seek help and support.”
Eccles continued: “The money that the teams from NGEN Brisbane raised is assisting us to continue this work and to also launch our new workshops ‘Healthy Teen Relationships’, which will start across five high school campuses towards the end of this year.
“Thank you again for supporting our mission NGEN, the funds will go a long way towards making our world a more positive one.”
NGEN Dodgeball Charity Cup 2019 – Results
Sydney (featured image)
Money raised: $10,500
Charity Winner: OMD $1,098.15
Dodge Cup Winner: OMD
Best Dressed: News Corp
Melbourne
Money raised: $4,600
Charity Winner: Mindshare $430
Dodge Cup Winner: Amplifi
Best Dressed: WIN Sales
Brisbane
Money raised: $5,247
Charity Winner: News Corp $1,100
Dodge Cup Winner: Seven Affiliate Sales
Best Dressed: Seven Network
