Charity champions named 2019 Ken Stephen Medal finalists
Corey Norman, Sia Soliola, Josh Aloiai and Agnatius Paasi have been announced as the 2019 Ken Stephen Medal finalists for their exceptional community work.
With 15 players initially nominated for the award, fans were able to choose one finalist via a poll on NRL.com. Norman earned the honour after almost 19,000 votes were cast over two weeks.
An expert panel selected the other three candidates and will ultimately decide the winner, who will receive the medal during the grand final pre-game show on October 6.
Norman volunteers with the Pass It On Clothing service for the homeless in Sydney's Martin Place most weeks. He helps distribute garments to those in need and has formed genuine relationships with the attendees.
The Queensland Origin five-eighth regularly goes beyond his club commitments, including working with students in the NRL School to Work program and at-risk youths.
Canberra veteran Soliola has willingly participated in a range of positive initiatives this year such as Shave for a Cure, McHappy Day, the Vinnies CEO Sleepout and NRL school holiday clinics.
As well as being an outstanding advocate for several charitable organisations, Soliola lends a hand at the Early Morning Centre's soup kitchen every Monday to feed the less fortunate - even if he played the previous day.
Wests Tigers forward Aloiai has devoted countless hours to visiting local hospitals and brightening the lives of people doing it tough.
Aloiai is an ambassador for Feel the Magic, an organisation which comforts bereaved kids who have lost a loved one, plus the Voice Against Violence and Celebrating Differences programs.
A gentle giant who is fantastic with children, Warriors prop Paasi is always keen to contribute in any way he can.
Paasi inspired the club's regular visits to Auckland soup kitchens in 2019 and linked with KidsCan to provide basic food items, warm raincoats, shoes, socks and health care items to children in low socio-economic areas.
He recently shaved off his signature locks to raise money for the Leukaemia and Blood Foundation and assists with facilitating the Warriors' Mental Wealth program to grassroots clubs.
The 2019 Ken Stephen Medal is proudly supported by wealth, property and well-being consultancy, One Solutions.
