Every point Melbourne United scores in January will benefit Victorian Bushfire Appeal

Melbourne United star Mitch McCarron says every donation, big or small, to help victims of the nation’s bushfire crisis has made him “proud of being Australian”. It’s doubly so with his club’s generous pledge to the cause.

Every point Melbourne United scores in January will benefit the Victorian Bushfire Appeal.

United hopes to raise more than $150,000 towards the bushfire relief and recovery effort, starting with a $50,000 donation of its own.

Club sponsors SodaStream will donate $500 for every point Melbourne scores in Saturday night’s clash with Adelaide 36ers, while Tyrepower has committed $100 for all United’s points in January.

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United boss Vince Crivelli has pledged dollars to bushfire victims for every point his team scores. Picture: Getty Images

“It’s a terrible time, but we’re absolutely thrilled that we can play a small part in trying to contribute to the rebuild of what is such a horrific scene for so many people,” United chief executive Vince Crivelli said.

United is averaging about 96 points per game this season.

There are a number of additional fundraising initiatives in the pipeline, including a possible celebrity game and memorabilia auctions.

Five dollars from every ticket sold for United’s Australian Open game on January 29 at Melbourne Arena will also go towards the appeal.

It follows a suite of NBL-wide initiatives, including $300 for every three-point shot made this round, and a pledge of more than $1 million from Australian NBA stars.

Mitch McCarron says every donation, big or small, counts. Picture: Getty Images

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United guard Mitch McCarron said the magnitude of the bushfire disaster has struck a chord not only with Australians, but around the world.

“Everybody knows everybody,” McCarron said.

“You see it on social media, you see the videos, the photos of people, not just our members but everybody in the community that is affected, in our state let alone the whole country.

“I’ve loved seeing people step up, you just contribute what you can.

“It might be the $1 million celebrities are giving, and that’s great, or it might be $10, it might be $5, it’s whatever you can give helps.

“That embodies Australia … when we’re backed into a corner and when we’re in trouble we want to help our mates — it’s made me really proud of being Australian.”

*United plays the Adelaide 36ers on Saturday night in Adelaide.

Originally published as Every point Melbourne United scores in January will benefit Victorian Bushfire Appeal