The Auckland City FC and Butterfly Trust relationship was strengthened further when the Navy Blues played Malampa Revivors in the OFC Champions League at Centre Park in Mangere on Saturday.
The partnership between Auckland City FC and the Butterfly Trust raised funds for Cyclone Pam relief in Vanuatu last year and looks set to continue this work in 2017.
This year, Auckland City FC general manager Terry Kennelly presented the Butterfly Trust's Ken Newlands with 60 footballs, 25 warm-up shirts, 40 polo shirts,12 goalkeeper kits, 10 warm-up jackets, three goalkeeper shirts, 12 sets of socks and eight tracksuits for children to use.
"We're delighted to make this commitment to the Butterfly Trust to support their outreach work in Vanuatu.
"The presence of Vanuatu Football Federation President Lambert Maltock is the icing on the cake and with Vanuatu U-20 qualifying for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in South Korea, we hope this added commitment by Auckland City FC lets people know that we're right behind them with our support," Kennelly said.
On top of the commitment of equipment, Auckland City FC also donated $1,000 towards the Butterfly Trust to assist with projects in Vanuatu.
In partnership since 2012, Auckland City FC and the Butterfly Trust have together raised nearly $5,000 over the past four years for education and relief projects in Vanuatu.
The Butterfly Trust supports developing world communities to attain improved standards of living by facilitating access to education and primary health.
In doing so, the Trust seeks to transform the lives of countless men, women and children struggling to survive and grow under impoverished circumstances in many parts of the world today.
Auckland City FC has also committed donations of football kit to Vanuatu that includes playing strips, equipment, balls and boots whenever travelling to the west pacific nation on OFC Champions League duty.