Carl Spence, Gleaner Writer
The Hilton Kids Charitable Fund Programme has announced a donation of $4.1 million for the development and refurbishing of three basic schools in the Corporate Area.
The announcement was made by Frank Rosheuvel, general manager of the Hilton Kingston, in a press conference held at the hotel on Monday.
Money for the basic schools project was made available through the Hilton Kingston's fund-raising Caribbean Kids Golf Tournament that took place on June 25.
The three schools to benefit from the project are St. Alban's Basic School in Denham Town, Amha Sellasi I Basic School on Oxford Road and Real Success Basic School on Wildman Street.
St. Alban's Basic will be the major beneficiary of the project as their portion of the funding will cover a total refurbishing of their school building. The plan for the school, according to Keisha Holman, chairperson of the Hilton Kids Programme, is to totally demolish the old school building and replace it with a new one.
The other two schools, she noted, will benefit through remodelling work on their bathrooms and/or their kitchens, depending on the extent of the money spent on St. Albans. The project is expected to be completed by the start of the new school year beginning in September.
An important task
"... Each year, we use the proceeds from the golf tournament on any children's charity we decide. Since last year, we have been focusing on basic schools. Last year, we only did one school; this year we have three schools and next year we are targeting five schools," Holman added.
Rosheuvel, in his address at the conference, noted the importance of looking after basic school children.
"It is really important to take care of the basic schools and about the education of the kids that are involved in the future of Jamaica. Its also important for the Government and adults to make sure we could do something, so the children can be proud of a beautiful Jamaica and the environment they live in," he said.
The major sponsors involved in the fund-raiser were Cable and Wireless, donating one million dollars, CVM TV added $500,000, American Airlines, Glaxo Smith Kline, Jamaica Broilers Group, Supreme Ventures/prime Sports, and National Commercial Bank all donated $250,000. Gas Products Limited handed over $100,000, while there were 15 other $50,000 donations for individual holes putted on the golf course.
