Wayne Wray (left), outgoing president of the Rotary Club of North St. Andrew, chats up a storm with Fabian Young (centre), past assistant governor of the club, and Patrick Gillings, incoming president. They were attending the installation ceremony for the new president of the club at the Hilton hotel in New Kingston on Monday. - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
NEWLY-APPOINTED PRESIDENT of the Rotary Club of North St. Andrew, Patrick Gillings, has big plans for his tenure at the helm of the service group.
His goal is to provide more than $1 million worth of medical equipment to the University Hospital of the West Indies.
Mr. Gillings, director of Digital Imaging Limited, was installed as president of the club on Monday during a function held at the Hilton Kingston hotel in New Kingston.
He noted that choosing a major project to focus on as president of the club was quite easy.
"The hospital is in great need of stretchers. We hope to fill this gap soon," Mr. Gillings said.
The plan is to raise enough funds to buy 10 new stretchers to be donated to the accident and emergency section of the hospital. Mr. Gillings said this would cost about $1.5 million.
"Our hope is to raise the money through corporate donations and through fund-raising events," he noted.
$300,000 SECURED
The new North St. Andrew Rotary president said he had already secured almost $300,000 in corporate sponsorship for the project and so hoped to make an initial donation to the hospital very soon.
"The hospital is in great need right now, so we would like to deliver four or five stretchers as soon as possible," he said.
