Since 2015 we’ve proudly supported the Saints as a Co-Principal Partner and their official lender. In 2020, we re-signed with the Saints and became their Community Partner, expanding our focus to include various community initiatives to help make a real difference in areas of the region that are traditionally under-served.
We are proud to be supporting initiatives that champion inclusiveness and diversity, some of which include SaintsPlay, Point and Be Proud Program, Play To Your Strengths, the Saints’ multicultural ambassador program and St Kilda’s deaf, blind and wheelchair football teams.
In October 2021, we renewed our partnership until the end of the 2023 season and to celebrate, we launched the Real Life Fund with the Saints. This community grant program will see $30,000 available for local community groups – in addition to existing community program work supported by Pepper Money.
Get to know The Saints through our Real Life Moments
Connection, community and helping others: Meet the Angels
The Angels, a much-loved supporter group of the club, were recently recognised, celebrated and gifted 100 memberships in their name, all thanks to Pepper Money.
A group of volunteers ranging in ages and backgrounds, the Angels are bonded by their love of the Saints and have been supporting and feeding the club for 35 years. Their volunteer work includes fundraising, player sponsorship and serving up food for the football department.
The Angels have donated those 100 memberships to St Kilda Football Club’s Community Team, which were then handed on to students of its All Nations School Program.
SaintsPlay Stories: Kaitlyn Nawrocki’s first taste of footy
Meet Kaitlyn, a 7-year-old blind girl who can’t have many of the same experiences as other kids her age. She must deal with a lot of challenges every day, and it can be tough for her to take part in community sport. But thanks to SaintsPlay, she was able to come and try football for the first time.
SaintsPlay is a program catered to children with autism and other learning disabilities. The program enables them to come down and enjoy themselves in a safe environment.
We can take for granted the things that come so easily to us or are second-nature. Kaitlyn’s happiness at learning a new skill is a reminder of the importance of community programs and what they can do.
As Co-Principal and Community Partner of St Kilda Football Club, we're proud to be able to support the Saints with these wonderful initiatives.
VWFL Saints versus Richmond: Wheelchair footy at a glance
We take a deep dive into the world of Wheelchair footy with a close look at the VWFL Saints recent Victorian Wheelchair Football League clash against Richmond.
What is wheelchair footy?
Played on an indoor basketball/netball court between two teams of five, plus interchange players. The game consists of four 10-minute quarters with no time-on. The field is divided into three zones: a centre zone and two scoring zones. Players are restricted to which zone they can enter and are required to wear a coloured item to differentiate themselves as either a forward, centre or back.
A handball is equivalent to a kick and a thrown ball equivalent to a pass. The ball may not be thrown overarm. A mark is awarded when the ball has travelled three or more metres.
Teams score by handballing or passing the football into their attacking scoring zone to the designated scorer, who can score a goal or behind by handballing the ball between the goal posts.
Tarni White's inspirational journey: AFL now blossoming in the Sunshine State
Meet Tarni White, a Queenslander who turned her back on rugby to pursue her love of AFL in the Sunshine State. She discusses the challenges she has overcome getting into the sport, where for six straight seasons she was the only female player at her all-male local club, Wynnum Vikings – for whom she became the first female to play 100 games for the club.
Ten years on she’s now a member of the Saints first team squad and her rise has been a shining inspiration in driving women’s participation within the region. Wynnum Vikings now field several all-female teams and annually awards the Tarni White Rising Star Trophy to the best first-year player regardless of age category or gender.
At only 20 years old, Tarni has played a huge part in paving the way for the younger generation of women's AFL players in Queensland. You can read more about her achievements here.
Have a look at the great initiatives we have worked on with St Kilda over the last year
