1 month ago
27
For the organisers of the charity concert, For the Children, it was a no-brainer to tie down internationally acclaimed, diamond-selling artiste, Shaggy, as the headliner for this year’s concert and they are promising another top-class event on Saturday, May 17, at Couples Sans Souci in Ocho Rios.
“At our For the Children concerts we usually have an international star and one or two top local stars. This year our international star is a home-grown one. We’ve been trying to get Shaggy to perform for us for a number of years. He’s a wonderful performer and he’s going to give us a great show,” chairman of the Issa Trust Foundation, Paul Issa, told The Gleaner.
Issa added that “Shaggy was happy [to be headliner] as he has always been about helping the children of Jamaica and he likes the work we do through the Issa Trust Foundation, with our focus on paediatric health care”.
Philanthropic in his own right, through the Shaggy Make a Difference Foundation and Shaggy & Friends charity concert, the Grammy award-winning artiste has raised funds to buy equipment and supplies for Bustamante Children’s Hospital, the only children’s hospital in the English-speaking Caribbean. His biennial Shaggy & Friends concert attracted international artistes, such as Sting, and was always hailed as one of the island’s best-produced concerts.
Issa is equally happy with the supporting acts who have been carefully chosen to take the stage alongside Shaggy at the May 17 event.
“We have Lila Iké, a wonderful singer who hasn’t performed in Jamaica for a while, and we also have Tessanne Chin’s group of young singers, Voice Box, who will be opening the show,” he said.
President of the Issa Trust Foundation Diane Pollard spoke to the importance of the For the Children concert as a fundraiser.
“This concert is a lifeline for our mission,” Pollard explained. “Every dollar raised goes directly to the Mary Issa Paediatric & Adolescent Health Centre, helping us complete construction and cover the critical expenses.”
PAEDIATRIC AND ADOLESCENT HEALTH CARE
The Mary Issa Paediatric Health Centre in Richmond, St Ann, will focus on paediatric and adolescent health care along with mental health programmes. Free eye exams will be provided, and glasses made in the clinic by the Lions groups. It represents a US$2.4-million investment in Jamaica’s future.
“This is more than a building, it’s a symbol of hope for thousands of children and families across Jamaica who have gone without the care they desperately need. By supporting this concert, you’re helping to create a welcoming place where children will be seen, heard, and cared for with compassion and dignity,” Pollard said.
In a recent interview with JIS News, Sean ‘Contractor’ Edwards, the foundation’s marketing and promotional consultant, said, “We are predicting another sold-out show. Shaggy’s popularity is undeniable, and I believe this concert will be a memorable experience for both fans and supporters of our cause. [It] promises to be an unforgettable night, one that underscores the foundation’s commitment to health and hope for Jamaica’s future,” he added.
Patrons of the Issa Trust Foundation are Lady Allen, wife of Governor General Sir Patrick Allen, and member of Parliament for East Rural St. Andrew, Juliet Holness.
English (US) ·