$1-m boost for BREDS/Treasure Beach U-13 cricket
WESTERN Union has increased its investment in community sports development through its sponsorship of the BREDS/Treasure Beach Under-13 Cricket Programme.
The company revealed at a brief presentation ceremony at the Treasure Beach Sports Complex recently that approximately 36 youngsters from several schools across St Elizabeth will benefit from the $1-million sponsorship.
The sponsorship will cover weekly coaching fees for 12 months, during which the participants will learn the correct cricketing techniques, while engaging in personal development sessions. A summer camp and cricket festival will also be hosted for participants.
Jason Henzell, founder and chairman of the BREDS/Treasure Beach Foundation, outlined the main goals as he gave an overview of the programme.
“We aim to provide top-level coaching along with great facilities to hone and fine-tune the talents of the youngsters over a 12-month period, and to support the BREDS vision of earning the distinction of having the most respected community youth programme in Jamaica, and possibly the Caribbean, by the end of 2016,” he said.
Dr Donovan Bennett, president of the Treasure Beach Sports Club and first vice-president of the Jamaica Cricket Association, and who was the main speaker at the launch, underlined the importance of the Under-13 cricket programme.
“We work with our young people to develop them into serious cricketers, hopefully to represent their country in the future. What we are doing here today is the start of something that I know is the right thing to do. I think this should be replicated, not only in Jamaica, but throughout the entire West Indies if we hope to get our cricket back on track,” he said.
Vinette Rowe, Western Union marketing manager, stated that the company was very pleased to be associated with the programme.
“We wanted to be associated with an event that we know will benefit young people and further strengthen our ties to the community. We are very happy that we are playing a part in your development because that is what is important to us,” she said.
Western Union has been a long-time supporter of youth and community sports through its sponsorship of the Annual Boys’ and Girls’ Championships, the Porus Community Football League and the Portland Division One football competition.
