Santos has entered a major community partnership with Regional Academies of Sport Limited (RAS Ltd), the parent company of the Central Coast Academy of Sport, to help local athletes achieve excellence in their field.
The platinum partnership includes two scholarship programs, with additional support to enhance pathways for Indigenous sporting talent.
Santos Managing Director and CEO Kevin Gallagher said the community investment would help aspiring young athletes reach their full potential.
“This partnership will nurture talented young people by providing access to elite coaching and development programs in the local area to help lift their performance as an athlete,” he said.
“By also providing them with financial support, we are hoping to remove some of the financial hurdles that many athletes face when they are juggling intensive training and competition schedules.
“Who knows? We may well have a future Olympic medallist in our midst. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our program helped pave the way?
“We are proud to be partnering with Regional Academies of Sport Limited to support these grassroots programs – sport is key to the social fabric and wellbeing of our communities,” Gallagher said.
Santos has a 70-year history of working in partnership with community organisations to support initiatives that provide lasting benefits to local communities.
CEO of RAS Ltd, Brett O’Farrell, said Santos was also a major supporting partner of the RAS Ltd Indigenous Talent Identification Days.
“This is a ground-breaking initiative that offers a unique sporting platform for more than 300 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from Central Coast High Schools to be recognised across various sports,” O’Farrell said.
“Those identified as exceptional talent will have the opportunity to progress into fully funded scholarship positions at the academy.
“In sports, it’s often said that if you’re not looking towards the future, you’re falling behind.
“Our partnership with Santos gives us the opportunity to not just look towards the future but to reach for the stars … and that’s crucial if we are to continue supporting athletes in regional NSW.”
For more information on the scholarships, visit thinksport.com.au/santos-sporting-scholarships/