News

Sunshine Coast Basketball Group Welcomes Community Funding Boost

October 20, 2023 | IN Media Release and News | BY Holly Brennan | 3 min read

The University of Sunshine Coast Rip City Basketball Association has taken its community grant awarded by Palmview community, Harmony by AVID Property Group (AVID) to the courts to bolster its training programs for all ages and skill levels.

Designed to foster local community groups and create lasting connections, AVID’s annual Sponsorship and Grants Program has invested a total of $728,000 back into the Sunshine Coast region in the program’s five-year duration.

One of Harmony’s grant recipients from 2022-23, the University of the Sunshine Coast’s not-for-profit Rip City Basketball Association, used the funds to invest in equipment, facilities and training programs for the volunteer driven program.

Rip City Basketball Director of Coaching Warwick Wilson said the grant provided valuable financial support to enhance the development and opportunities for players across the group’s variety of initiatives.

“We are thrilled to be recognised and supported by Harmony’s grants program, with AVID having longstanding involvement in youth and professional sports on the Sunshine Coast,” Mr Wilson said.

“The grant helped fund our popular pop-up programs throughout this year, allowing us to take our coaching into communities – just like Harmony – where our coaches got to work with members of the public on community courts.

“With a strong mission to develop skills and foster growth, Rip City Basketball provides some of the
best facilities and trainers in Queensland for aspiring athletes to thrive and reach their full potential,
and this grant will only help us further achieve this.

“We run a wide variety of basketball programs for young athletes wanting to learn to play, club training sessions, performance programs and state representative programs, through to the second highest league in Australia – the NBL 1 Men’s and Women’s teams.”

AVID General Manager Queensland Anthony Demiris said Harmony had a proud history of giving back to local communities through sponsorship and grants.

“Our annual sponsorship and grants program is a way of giving back to the community we are so proud to be a part of and great opportunity to introduce our new Harmony residents to the wider Sunshine Coast community,” Mr Demiris said.

“It has been fantastic to see Rip City Basketball host mini clinics throughout the school term for Harmony’s youngest residents to learn and practice new skills, whilst enjoying the best of their communities’ facilities.

“These grants not only provide vital financial assistance but help develop resilient, adaptive, and vibrant communities – a focus that has been underpinned by our commitment to the region,’ he said.

“Last year, we were pleased to award nine grants to some amazing local businesses and groups throughout our growing Harmony community, including sport, education, and the arts.

“We look forward to strengthening Harmony’s ties with the local community and continuing our goal of
fostering lasting connections with local community groups important to our residents through our next
round of grants.”

Harmony’s 2022-23 Community Sponsorship and Grant recipients included:

Activate Grant:

Rip City Basketball: Free weekly basketball clinics in Harmony Recreation Park
Chancellor Park Soccer Club: Gazebos to provide shade and protection from weather
Palmview State Special School P&C: 2022 Christmas Carol funding to raise money to
support the welfare of local families, counselling, grief and loss program, and a community
mentoring program
Harmonize Health and Wellbeing: Free bi-weekly yoga program for Harmony residents
Sunshine Sign and Sing: Onsite baby keyword signing sessions to be held for wider
Palmview community
Harmony Business Hub: Incorporation and set up of incorporated association
Connect Grants:
Rip City Basketball: Annual sponsorship
Sunshine Sign and Sing: Video series and development of application
University of the Sunshine Coast: Concert series performed by USC students