SVG Europe launches Sports Broadcasting Fund Europe

SVG Europe is proud to announce the launch of the Sports Broadcasting Fund Europe, a new charity that was created to help sports production freelancers and other professionals who find themselves in dire financial need due to illness, injury, or catastrophic life events to get through difficult times. The goal is to quickly offer financial assistance that can make an immediate difference and prevent the recipient from slipping into poverty.

“Extending the Sports Broadcasting Fund in the U.S. over to Europe is an important step in giving those in the European sports production community the same opportunity to not only receive assistance but to also contribute so that we can help as many people as possible,” says Ken Kerschbaumer, SVG Europe Sports Broadcasting Fund administrator. “The Fund in the U.S. has been able to help dozens of families and individuals over the years get through difficult times.”

To learn more about how you can get involved or apply for assistance please click here.

In addition, if you are based in the U.S. or know someone in the U.S. who would like to make a donation please use this link.

The near-term goal is to raise as much money as possible in order to fill the coffers so that the Fund can respond to as many people as possible.

“We have been blessed with some wonderful donations already from leading remote production service providers and our hope is that major European and even U.S.-based organisations will step forward with major donations in the coming weeks,” says Kerschbaumer.

Most importantly, the Fund is being run completely by volunteers, with the only costs being adminstration fees of 10% from the organizations managing the donations and distributing the funds to those in need.

“We are able to ensure that 90 per cent of money raised will go directly to those in need which is, of course, the most important thing,” says Kerschbaumer.

Applicants must have worked in the sports broadcasting production industry for one year and immediate family members of those employed in the sports broadcasting field may be eligible for grants. Applicants must be a resident of one of these European countries: Austria – Belgium – France – Germany – Hungary – Ireland – The Netherlands – Luxembourg – Poland – Portugal – Spain – Switzerland – The United Kingdom

“Our goal is not to provide long-term support but rather near-term assistance as difficulties in the early days of a crisis, like the inability to work for three or four weeks, can quickly snowball, adding even more stress and strain to someone trying to get healthy,” says Kerschbaumer.