Driving a sense of community and collaborating with organisations to deliver positive outcomes at a local level is core to what community sport is all about. Many members within Victorian basketball have already built strong connections with local charity organisations doing great work in the community. Raising awareness for important causes and supporting those pioneers helping others.
One such organisation, Lighthouse Foundation a local Melbourne based charity, provides young people who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness, with the care and support they need to heal, thrive and achieve a lifelong sense of belonging.
Over the past two years, Lighthouse has been fortunate to have exceptional volunteers in the Victorian basketball community who have supported their efforts through Lighthouse’s Hoops for Homeless initiative. Hoops has raised more than $120,000 through 11 rounds of community basketball games and two major tournaments, with vital funds supporting key programs like the Lighthouse Foundation’s Community Connect program. In its first year, Hoops was rolled out through the Waverley, Nunawading, Frankston, and Chelsea Basketball Associations, raising over $81,000. As the second year gained traction, Hoops expanded to seven rounds across additional locations, including Keilor, Knox, and Melton, along with two major tournaments in Nunawading and Southern Peninsula, raising an additional $39,750.
Community Connect provides young people facing housing instability with the tools and support needed to move toward safe and sustainable housing. Designed for individuals aged 16 to 25 in the Metropolitan Melbourne area who are not yet fully equipped for independent living, the program involves a therapeutic outreach case management approach. Community Connect bridges the gap between intensive support and the autonomy required to maintain stable housing, while also fostering the young person's capacity to self-manage and access support independently. This requires a strong and nurturing relationship between the case manager and the young person to build a sense of safety, self-worth, empowerment, choice, and personal agency.
Hoops for Homeless rounds involved volunteer activities including BBQs and merchandise sales. The Lighthouse Foundation’s Head of Marketing Leanne Waters said – ‘We were thrilled to see junior teams proudly wearing Lighthouse-branded socks and purchasing drink bottles to show their support for the cause.’
She goes on to say – ‘We believe it takes a village to raise a child and community is key to our overall mission. Basketball, and sport more broadly is a great vehicle to connect communities, and we have enjoyed working together with some wonderful basketball associations to help us achieve our goals.’
Through the dedication of volunteers, the passion of young athletes, and the generosity of supporters, Lighthouse Foundation continues to provide vital services to some of the most vulnerable children and young people in our community. The funds raised through Hoops for Homeless are critical in supporting programs like Community Connect. These events not only generate much-needed financial resources but also enhance community awareness and engagement. If you, or your association would like to get involved with some of these local basketball initiatives or other ways to community fundraise please contact fundraising@lighthousefoundation.org.au.
