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Matera reaches out to community

Gold Coast forward Brandon Matera was rapt to deliver the Suns’ AFL Players Care donation to a charity close to his heart.

Matera is the ambassador for the Gold Coast Community Fund, and handed over a cheque for $5000 at the charity’s 2016 breakfast launch on March 7.

“This is my second year running as an ambassador and I’m honoured to be part of the Gold Coast Community Fund,” Matera said.

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“It is important to be part of the Community Fund; they help our 10 charities including areas in youth homelessness, domestic violence and the northern areas. It is a big part of the Gold Coast Suns to be part of the Fund and help out in any way we can.”

The donation was made possible through the AFL Players’ Association’s recently launched AFL Players Care program, whereby the players’ will donate more than $435,000 of their 2016 match payments to the charity of each club’s choice.

The AFL Players Care program launched after the players collectively voted, at the end of 2014, to increase their contributions from $25 to $50 per player, per game.

Matera, an inaugural member of the Suns squad, has helped the club put in more than 26,115 hours to the local community.

AFL Players’ Association CEO, Paul Marsh, recently said he was proud of all AFL players for taking the initiative to increase their contribution to those less fortunate than them.

“AFL players have a unique opportunity to influence change in our community and its outstanding that the players have decided of their own accord to donate $50 per player, per game they play to charity,” he said.

“For years, AFL players have gone above and beyond to assist community organisations and touch the lives of those in need – efforts which can sometimes go unseen. All at the AFL Players’ Association are proud of the entire playing group for seeking to make an ever bigger difference going forward.”

To find out more about AFL Players Care, click HERE