Lowy and Buckley meet Tutu
Football Federation Australia (FFA) Chairman, Frank Lowy AC, and CEO, Ben Buckley met today with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu at Tygerberg Children’s Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa as part of an initiative to contribute to humanitarian causes in the African continent.
Lowy presented Archbishop Tutu with a cheque for 1 million South African Rand (approximately $150,000) to support the work of the hospital of which Archbishop Tutu and his wife are Patrons.
“Africa has given football some of the world-s best players over the years and this is a gesture that also recognises Africa-s contribution to our game,” said Lowy.
“It must be our legacy and it is Australia-s long-standing policy to help where help is most needed.
“Archbishop Tutu has fought for justice for decades and it is an honour and a privilege for me to offer a comparatively small contribution to his fight for a better life for those who are the most vulnerable in the world: children of all creed, ethnicities and walks of life,” he said.
Lowy said that, in cooperation with the Australian Government, AusAID and the Australian corporate sector, the contribution to Tygerberg Children-s Hospital was the beginning of an in Australian initiative to help build a better future for vulnerable children in Africa.
“We are determined to grow today-s initiative into a substantial and ongoing programme to help improve children-s health, education and social outcomes and assist in the development of those who live in underprivileged conditions throughout the African continent,” Lowy said.
Lowy and Buckley were also accompanied by eight children from around Australia. The eight all play football and were on hand to meet with children at the hospital.