…Good Shepherd Foundation to benefit from Ms JA Cornwall beauty contest
FRANCHISE holder for the Miss Jamaica World Cornwall beauty contest, Lachu Ramchandani has announced that the net proceeds from this year’s staging of the contest will go towards the Good Shepherd Foundation.
“This year I am dedicating my time and will be sacrificing my business to do the contest, in order to help the Good Shepherd Foundation,” Ramchandani told the Observer.
The Good Shepherd Foundation is a non-profitable organisation that provides financial support to a number of charitable organisations across western Jamaica.
These include:
* the Aids Hospice at Albion in Montego Bay; the Widow’s Mite, which is a home for mentally and physically challenged children; and
* the Home of Charlotte’s Children, also in the western city.
Ramchandani, who last year announced that he was relinquishing the franchise for the contest in the year 2001, told the Observer that this year was definitely the last time he will stage the event.
And he said it would be bigger and better than in previous years.
“So far we have close to 35 girls and we are hoping that by the time applications close in another month, we should have about 150,” Ramchandani said, adding that the response to the contest had been overwhelming.
Applications, he said, were pouring in and many sponsors are coming on board.
The elimination show is set for June 14 while the coronation is to be held at the Montego Bay Community College’s auditorium on July 14.
This year the winner of the contest will receive prizes valued at over $1 million.
Her prizes will include:
* $50,000 in cash from the franchise holder;
* a one-year $165,000 scholarship to the Arianox Business College;
* a television set and appliances; and
* a trip for two to Chicago, courtesy of Apple Vacations in addition to several weekends at all-inclusive north coast hotels.
In addition, Ramchandani said every contestant in this year’s event would be taking home at least $100,000 in prizes.
Last year, Tamara Pinnock, an employee of the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Montego Bay, was crowned Miss Jamaica World Cornwall.