Halberg Foundation announce new partnership with International Sports Promotion Society ISPS Handa

Halberg Foundation Chief Executive Shelley McMeeken, ISPS Executive Director of International Affairs Midori Miyazaki, and ISPS Handa patron Sir John Key.

The Halberg Foundation has announced its new partnership with International Sports Promotion Society ISPS Handa.

ISPS Handa is a global organisation, founded by Japanese philanthropist Dr. Haruhisa Handa, in support of charitable causes throughout the sporting world.

ISPS Handa will provide scholarships for promising young physically disabled Kiwi athletes while playing an important role in the Halberg Foundation's annual flagship fundraising event the Halberg Awards.

Halberg Disability Sport Foundation LIVE Announcement

Special Announcement LIVE from Spark Arena

Posted by ISPS Handa Halberg Awards on Monday, 25 June 2018

Halberg Foundation Chief Executive, Shelley McMeeken, said the organisation was thrilled to receive support and recognition from ISPS Handa and believed the partnership would implement a positive impact on the Foundation's long-term plans and programmes.

"With ISPS Handa's generous support, we can continue our current programmes, and look at extending our reach into communities and schools to ensure physically disabled young Kiwis can experience all the benefits of sport and recreation," McMeeken said.

"We are proud to attract the support of such a respected organisation and we are determined to continue doing everything we can to support physically disabled young people to participate in their choice of sport or recreation opportunities."

ISPS Executive Director of International Affairs, Midori Miyazaki, said she was excited about the partnership and hoped it would bring together a shared determination to enhance lives through sport.

"Dr. Handa is very excited about this and he thinks it's a great honour to be associated with this foundation," Miyazaki said.

"ISPS Handa looks forward to supporting the Halberg Foundation in creating a more inclusive society through sports participation and honouring some of New Zealand's top athletes, teams, and coaches."

In his role as ISPS Handa patron, former New Zealand Prime Minister, Sir John Key, played an important role in bringing the two organisations together.

Key said he was very impressed by the work Dr. Handa had done in New Zealand and said it spoke volumes for the organisation.

"Dr Handa has been dedicated to improving the quality of life for blind and disabled people for three decades. The efforts are clearly showing some traction," said Key.

"Our partnership with The Halberg Foundation following a raft of other initiatives supporting those with disabilities will hopefully inspire more to join the effort in using sport as an incredible tool that can transform lives for the better."

The ISPS Handa Halberg Awards will remain New Zealand's pre-eminent event to honour and celebrate sporting achievements of athletes, teams, and coaches.

Previous winners include ISPS Handa Ambassador, Lydia Ko, who won the supreme Halberg Award in 2013.

The ISPS Handa Halberg Awards will take place at Auckland's Spark Arena in early 2019.