The Western Bulldogs, with the support of Mars, have teamed up again to donate more than $30,000 worth of Mars products to 48 local football clubs across the Ballarat region last week as part of the 2026 Western Bulldogs and Mars Community Initiative.
Following on from the incredible success in 2025, this community initiative supports grassroots football clubs by supplying Mars products that can be sold to generate additional revenue and reinvested back into their communities.
This year’s initiative expanded to include the Ballarat Bulldogs all-abilities sporting club, alongside teams from the Ballarat Football Netball League and Central Highlands Football League.
Sarah Armstrong, Bulldogs Head of Partnerships and Sales, was proud to partner with Mars to make a difference in the Ballarat community.
“These initiatives aim to support local football clubs by easing the pressure on volunteers, and generating incremental revenue that can be reinvested into local sport,” she said.
“Mars has been a cornerstone of the Ballarat community for more than 45 years, and we are incredibly grateful to partner together to continue supporting the Ballarat region and its clubs.”
Mars Corporate Affairs Director Scott Pettet echoed this sentiment.
“The volunteers work tirelessly week in, week out, so it’s out way of making a little bit of a contribution to sporting clubs in Ballarat,” Pettet told the Ballarat Times.
Zac Firth, whose father helped start the Ballarat Bulldogs, shared his appreciation for the initiative.
“Any help really goes a long way,” Firth told the Ballarat Times last week.
“The support is amazing.”
Formed in 2016, the Ballarat Bulldogs were created to provide people with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to participate in sport in a safe, welcoming and supportive environment.
What started as a football team has expanded into a wider community, offering both football and netball programs for all-abilities with a strong support network.
To learn more about the Ballarat Bulldogs, please click here.
To read more about the 2026 community initiative, proudly supported by Mars, please click here.
