Darragh Fitzgerald Selby, general manager of Digicel Business, has underlined the social benefits of supporting sports and believes that events like this weekend’s Couples Resorts Charity Golf Tournament play an important role in helping to develop individuals and communities.

The two-man scramble tournament, which will be contested at Sandals Golf and Country Club in Upton, St Mary, on Sunday, has raised well over $30 million towards local charities in its 20 years of existence.

This impact aligns perfectly with the ethos of sponsors such as Digicel, whose own foundation has invested over US$42 million in over 1,400 projects, directly improving the lives of more than 700,000 individuals in Jamaica.

The company has thrown its support behind the charity tournament for over 15 years and will return as a major partner for the upcoming staging.

“We continue to invest in sports programmes from the grassroots to professional levels. In terms of the Couples Charity Golf Tournament, we are encouraged and elated to see the tremendous impact of last year’s donations that went towards the establishment of a state-of-the-art computer/multipurpose room at the Three Hills Primary School in St Ann,” Fitzgerald Selby told the Jamaica Observer.

“We were there to witness the life-changing impact of our involvement, which has strengthened our belief in supporting the development of the game of golf in ways that can also deliver real social change to our communities.”

Last year’s tournament raised $2.3 million and also benefitted Hamilton Mountain Basic School and Animal House Jamaica.

“The response from our corporate friends, other private and public stakeholders and the public has been overwhelmingly positive. Indeed, the minister of education, Fayval Williams, acknowledged the private sector partnership that resulted in the investment toward improving the lives of children in Three Hills and surrounding communities,” added Fitzgerald Selby.

“Our customers have also given us kudos for continuing our longstanding support of the annual Couples Charity Golf Tournament, and this inspires us to continue to go another round this year on the course and through our major sponsorship,” he added.

In addition to providing cash support, Fitzgerald Selby pointed out that Digicel Business will also be represented on the course by himself as well as CEO Jabbor Kayumov, group CFO for Digicel Business Pauline Murphy, and group head of finance for technical and networks, Jack Dawson.

Peter Chin and George Hugh were the net score winners at last year’s staging with 60.25 after grossing 64.

Sean Morris and Delroy Johnson had a gross score of 62 to top that category.

Radino Lobban and Jared Hamilton tallied a net score of 61 while Mark Newnham and Jodi Munn grossed 63.