4 months ago
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WHAT STARTED out as an annual footballers’ tour with the Lions United Sports Club over 25 years ago has now mushroomed into a full-fledged charity event that is having a major impact.
On Saturday, Lions United Sports Club celebrated its 25th anniversary with an elegant dinner at the Terra Nova Hotel in Kingston.
The group also used the occasion to honour 16 sponsors who have been with the organisation throughout the years and 19 individuals who have contributed more than two decades’ worth of service.
Sixteen scholarships were presented to assist with tertiary and high school education as well as football equipment to be presented to a daCosta Cup team.
The tour continued with a second health fair in Malvern, St Elizabeth, yesterday following the first in St Mary on Friday. President Earl Davis believes the organisation’s efforts will ease the burden on a lot of parents and families for the upcoming school year.
“It was an excellent evening. All the hard work has come to pass. It’s a success. We have a full house.
“The honourees, the sponsors, the scholarship recipients. And all in all, it was a beautiful evening,” he noted.
“There is a lot of cost to it. A lot of work. But with the dedication of the team to go out and do a lot of fundraising and community work, we were able to pull this off,” he said.
“We have tried to honour all the sponsors who have helped us over the years. We have 16 sponsors who have been there for us and 19 individuals who have done over 20 years with us. “The rest is 10 years and over, and we will be honouring those at the hotel in Negril on Wednesday.
“We gave out 16 scholarships to kids. Some who are in high school already and some going on to tertiary institutions. Everybody will get a US$300 scholarship to assist with tuition and books and whatever.
“After this year, they can reapply for next year, and as long as they qualify, we will continue the scholarship.
“But each year we try to outdo what we did before. This year, we have done more, trying to give back more, and encourage people, more companies, to come on board,” he said.
Meanwhile, the organisation’s resident doctor, Annique Anderson, has been with the organisation for over 10 years and she believes that it is making a phenomenal difference in the lives of ordinary Jamaicans.
“I have been to many different parishes giving back medical assistance, sports supplies, and giving back towards education.
“We had a health fair in St Mary on Friday. On Thursday, the 17th, we will be in Hanover, where I am from.
“Nowadays, everything is expensive, so when you are able to give back, even just a little, whether it is books or school supplies, we are taking a burden off the parents, and that will help them to put their money towards school.
“It helps with auxiliary fees, school books, bags, uniforms, and it has been very helpful because it has kept the kids in school.
“Sometimes they may miss a few days because parents may not be able to send them because they do not have lunch money or adequate supplies. But with the scholarships and free medical, they are able to go to school consistently,” she stated.
English (US) ·