Phoenix Celebrates Starlight This Saturday

For the third year, South East Melbourne Phoenix is partnering with Starlight Children’s Foundation for our annual Starlight Game.

Phoenix will raise funds for the Starlight Foundation throughout the week leading up to Saturday night’s game against Perth Wildcats, and will raise further funds at the game.

Over the last three years the partnership has seen the Phoenix raise $24,487 for Starlight.

In the inaugural season, Phoenix announced Starlight Children’s Foundation as the official charity partner. Together they are working towards their mission to brighten the lives of seriously ill young people and their families by replacing pain, fear and stress with fun, joy and laughter.

Phoenix sharpshooters Ryan Broekhoff and Cam Gliddon are the club's Starlight ambassadors for a second year. With both fathers to young kids, they understand the importance of helping sick kids, and making them smile. 

“I am honoured to be an ambassador for the Starlight foundation. As a father my son’s health and happiness are my main priority. The Starlight foundation do an incredible job of inspiring hope, bringing joy and smiles to children going through trying times,” Broekhoff said.

“I’m very proud to be an ambassador of Starlight for my second straight year. They do some incredible work and I’m looking forward to our Starlight game to highlight the importance of their organisation,” Gliddon said.

There are many ways Phoenix fans can get involved this week to help raise funds for Starlight.

• Fans can pledge a donation for every 3-pointer a Phoenix player scores during the game – CLICK HERE to make your pledge
• Starlight wands will be available to buy for $10, with all proceeds going to Starlight. With the wands lighting up John Cain Arena at half-time to shine a light on children in hospitals.

(Starlight Wands will be on sale for $10, ready for the HT blackout.)

There will also be some entertainment on board for game day with a bowling competition between Birdman and Starman, a dance-off between Birdman and the Phoenix Flames against Starman and Captain Starlights and at three-quarter time a special celebrity shoot-out. 

Phoenix’s amazing sponsors are also contributing on the day with Cleaning Melbourne donating $150 for every 3-point made and Mills Oakley will donate $200 for every free throw. LMTC+ will donate $50 for every free throw in the three quarter time celebrity shoot-out and Ashfords Accounting auctioned off the use of their executive suite at the game.

Since its establishment in 1988, Starlight has expanded to become the broadest reaching children’s charity in Australia. There is now a Starlight Express Room in every children’s hospital in the country and over 180 Captain Starlight’s nationwide.

(Captain Starlight will be back on Saturday night to help celebrate the special occasion.)

Starlight Children’s Foundation's focus of providing programs that facilitate family-centred connections aligns strongly with South East Melbourne's community values. With a Starlight Express Room at the Monash Children’s Hospital, South East Melbourne Phoenix players attended the room regularly (pre-Covid) and visited kids in the wards to help Captain Starlight bring some much-needed joy to their lives.

Tickets to Saturday's Game - CLICK HERE 

To make your pledge to Starlight - CLICK HERE

Phoenix Media (22/2/22)