Nestle Jamaica, through its brand Milo, yesterday stepped up to the plate with a whopping US$5,000 ($495,000) to assist the Green Island High School with their maiden trip to the 119th Penn Relays in Philadelphia.

The Hanover-based school boosting a powerful 4x100m squad led by the IAAF World Youth Championships 100m gold, medallist Odail Todd, and with a best time of 40.09 seconds, were in danger of missing the prestigious Penn Relays for the second year running.

But Nestle, which has sponsored the Milo Western Relays for the last 19 years, of which Green Island are a part, saw it fit to assist the needy school, which has displayed great potential.

Karen Willis-Mussington, Nestle’s consumer marketing manager, said she first read about Green Island’s plight in the Jamaica Observer, pleading for financial assistance to make it to Penn Relays set for April 24-27.

“Milo is always focused on sports development and we have been sponsoring track meets in the western region for over 20 years. Green Island is one of the top teams out of that region, therefore when we read the article regarding the team not able to go to Penn Relays, we saw an opportunity to help,” said Willis-Mussington.

“We know you are going to do well. It’s a pleasure to assist you to meet your goals and you complement Milo and what it represents in terms of nourishing champions. You guys are in fact future champions,” she added.

Meanwhile, Jurg Blaser, Nestle’s country manager, said he has only been here for a couple of months and has been to the stadium and was impressed with the atmosphere, dedication, enthusiasm, and excitement.

“From your description of the event over there it will probably be just the same. I hope that you guys get good results and this is one step more in the tradition of Milo in nourishing future champions,” said Blaser, who was born in Switzerland.

“I have always been a fanatic in sports and with Milo we are on the right track. Milo is energy, it’s about winning, about nourishing future champions and that’s why we are sending these young talented persons to the Penn Relays,” said Blaser.

“It’s not all about the physical, it’s the mental part as well, and that’s what Milo is all about,” noted Blaser.

Green Island, coached by Michael McIntosh, will be sending eight boys to compete in both the 4x100m and 4x400m relays. The team will be led Todd and includes Chadwayne Vidal, Gremiko Whitelock, Kevarie Andrews, Romario Hall, Neno Symester, Rasheed Cunningham, and Oshane Hylton.

They had their best year at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ Champs in March, finishing third in the 4x100m in an impressive 40.09 seconds behind both Kingston College and Munro College.

Earlier they had won at the Gibson Relays in February in 40.18 seconds, and coach McIntosh is happy that they will get a chance to showcase their talent at the Penn Relays.

“It has been a pleasure. Words cannot express my sincere gratitude for Nestle to come on board. On my way here I could see a caption saying Green Island nestle in Pennsylvania,” said McIntosh to loud laughter.

“Hopefully we can transfer that into something tangible at Penns courtesy of Nestle,” he added.