Western Bulldogs AFLW stars Isabel Huntington and Bonnie Toogood are using their positions as players for good, as official ambassadors of the Club’s Community Foundation.  

The Foundation, which delivers innovative and engaging community services for individuals and families residing in Victoria’s West, facilitates a range of programs across Health and Wellbeing, Youth Leadership and Diversity, Social Inclusion and Community Advocacy.  

Huntington and Toogood have both been heavily involved in the Foundation’s virtual programs and initiatives in 2021 and will look to continue this in 2022, when many programs return to face-to-face operations.  

Huntington played a part in the Club and Foundation’s response to COVID-19 earlier in the year, speaking on two occasions at the Victorian Government’s daily COVID-19 press conferences. The 2020 AFLW Rising Star has also volunteered her time with the Daughters of the West program (DOTW), presenting to participants and attending graduation ceremonies. 

Toogood has mentored African Australian young people in the GOAL Program, spoken at DOTW sessions and graduations, and assisted Youth Leadership Program participants with their social impact projects.  

But perhaps most remarkable of all is the time when the 2021 Western Bulldogs Community Award winner stepped up to moderate an Inspirational Women session in the Daughters of the West program.  

Both players are passionate about their work in the community, with Toogood highlighting how important it is that they use their profile for the betterment of society. 

“As AFLW players we have an opportunity to use our positions to effect change and make an impact.  Being able to do that through the footy club and the foundation that prioritises that sense of acceptance, belonging and community is an absolute privilege,” Toogood said.  

Huntington says that it is special to be a part of a club like the Western Bulldogs, which has a strong commitment to producing better social and health outcomes for the community in the west of Melbourne and Victoria.  

“The Bulldogs are known as the community club of the AFL and AFLW, and being able to be part of a club that delivers programs that truly make a difference in people’s lives is something that is really special and something I am very proud of,” she said.   

To learn more about the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation, visit this page.