OGC Nice already launched a charitable operation last October with the aim of assisting families affected by Storm Alex since its recent passage through the hinterland of Nice. This Wednesday, over €30,000 was raised by the Aiglons club and used to help, through the Partagence association, the victims of this natural disaster. The association was presented with the €30,000 check on Tuesday by Jean-Pierre Rivère, president of the Gym, and Dante, player and captain of the club.
The Gym takes action! Since Storm Alex passed through the valley at the beginning of October in the hinterland of Nice, it has left significant damage and numerous families in distress. Stripped of electricity, heating, possessions, and even a home, the affected individuals found themselves left to their own devices.
OGC Nice stands in solidarity with the victims
Faced with this alarming situation, OGC Nice decided to mobilize and participate in solidarity actions by donating blankets, clothes, and foodstuffs, like most local associations. To augment their contribution, the Gym conducted a dual operation to support the rebuilding of homes: a charity raffle and an auction. Thanks to the mobilization of its players, partners, supporters, and French clubs, OGC Nice was able to collect over €30,000 through the Partagence association.
“With these operations, we were notably able to acquire and provide victims with furniture to refurbish their homes. The funds also allowed us to build a bridge so that the children of a family could go to school, purchase fences to restructure a farmer’s land and save his animals. OGC Nice didn’t hesitate for a second to respond to our request; it’s the only club that got so involved. Everything that has been done was initiated by OGC Nice, with the will to help and gather as much as possible. We never imagined that the players would play along by buying shirts to increase the total amount. This desire to help truly reflects the mentality of OGC Nice and the people of Nice” explains Jérôme Melin, coordinator of the association.
The families from the affected valleys quickly received many essential items for the rehabilitation of their homes devastated by the floods. “We who had lost everything were able to start rebuilding. OGC Nice and the Partagence association helped us a lot”, explained the Bertagnolio family from Saint-Martin-Vésubie whose house was completely ravaged during Storm Alex. In the Roya valley, the Venturini family was able to “get warm again and reclaim our home.”
A similar situation occurred for the Courtois family, who settled in the Vésubie valley and whose house was severely damaged by almost a meter of water at the time of the disaster. Fish farmer Yves in Roquebillière was forced to stop his activity. “OGC Nice helped us a lot with Partagence. We had nothing left. They allowed us to have new equipment, and everything happened very quickly. We didn’t expect to have all this”.
Reactions from the club’s players and fans
Jean-Pierre Rivère, president of OGC Nice, expressed gratitude towards all those who participated in this charitable project, which will comfort the victims: “This operation seemed natural to us, as OGC Nice has a societal role that is exercised throughout the year. And when tragedies like this occur, our role is to lend a hand. We first made donations of essential goods and then tried to structure operations to raise funds. The most challenging part is finding the right channel to help as swiftly as possible, and we approached Partagence, who enabled us to lend this helping hand. I would like to thank everyone who got involved: our supporters, our players, Stade Rennais, the LFP, and several Ligue 1 Uber Eats clubs that participated in the auctions, as well as everyone who helped us in this task.”
Dante, defender and captain of OGC Nice, whose red and black soul responds to the victims’ distress call: “It’s part of the Gym’s DNA to stand united when things are tough and to help others. This strong attachment to its territory and the willingness to help whenever possible is something strong in this club, of which I am proud to be a part.”
Fabrice Claudel from Chevron Villette, partner of OGC Nice, who wants to make the Gym a club full of solidarity: “As a citizen and partner of the club, I closely follow what the OGC Nice Endowment Fund does. When I can help, I try to do so. The players and the club, through its Endowment Fund, do an exceptional job assisting the less fortunate. It’s hard to find a club more active than OGC Nice at this level. I’ll try to give this jersey to a child or use it to help the club of Breil-sur-Roya, which was completely destroyed by the storm.”
For Jordan Minglis, a club supporter participating in the charity raffle, this solidarity action, which will bring smiles to the victims, apparently made him the happiest man in the world: “I mainly participated to help the valleys! I was very happy to receive this jersey! I love the captain, Dante. It was one of my best Christmas gifts! This club is my passion! Issa Nissa!”
