New Zealand Hockey
Hockey is a favourite sport of Glenn Family Foundation founder, Owen Glenn, who has played hockey for 20 years in five different countries. Keen to see the sport advance at all levels in New Zealand, and supportive of the foresight and commitment of Hockey New Zealand, the Foundation has allocated several substantial tranches of funding to the organisation for this purpose.
In September 2011, thanks to the GFF, Hockey New Zealand was able to secure the rights to host the FIH Hockey’s Men’s Champions Trophy - named the “Owen G Glenn 2011 FIH Champions Trophy,” the most prestigious hockey event ever hosted in New Zealand and the last major tournament to take place before the 2012 London Olympics. From December 3 - 11, 2011, Auckland City played host to the world’s eight best men's teams.
The Owen G Glenn FIH Champions' Trophy was a great success, with over 18,000 seats sold across the 24 matches played over six days. In front of a capacity crows, the Black Sticks Men, currently ranked seventh in the world, finished fourth, their best ever result at a Champions' Trophy, putting them in good stead for their journey to the 2012 London Olympics. Broadcast to approximately 38 million people worldwide, the event helped to raise hockey's profile and reputation with media, sponsors, the FIH and hockey fans around the country and internationally.
Additionally, as part of the tournament there was a School Day, where primary students were invited to come and 'give hockey a go' and be part of a mini Champions' Trophy and after, stay on to watch the world's best players take to the turf.
In other hockey news, Hockey New Zealand has made Owen Glenn the Founding Patron of a new Hockey Foundation which aims to raise money to advance the sport in a number of ways. The Hockey Foundation will seek funding so to develop its talent base, support its top teams and develop role models for younger players. It looks to build an endowment of $2 million by 2013.
To provide a catalyst for this, the GFF has pledged $1 million in matching funds, which will be gifted when this amount is matched by other donors.
In an initiative to help junior players, the GFF will also make an annual grant to NZ Hockey of $100,000 per year, for three years. This will be directed to hockey youth through a new Owen G Glenn Future Black Sticks Programme. This will identify age group athletes who have world class potential, providing them with the fitness programmes, camps and quality international experience needed for them to become the next generation of Black Sticks. Hockey New Zealand will also contribute, and will develop a coordinated fundraising programme for each team. This will give a boost to New Zealand teams preparing for the 2013 Junior World Cup which is to be hosted in India.
For more information, click here