BTC School Aid Prepares 400 Children for School Year

Wed, Aug 27th 2014, 11:23 AM

BTC Bahamas held its 2nd Annual BTC School Aid event at Mario’s Bowling and Entertainment Centre on Saturday.

The event brought together 40 BTC iVolunteers to prepare 400 students with their parents from across New Providence and Cat Island for the upcoming school year community aided by a small army of community leaders, educational guest speakers, and health and grooming professionals.

The younger children from the 5-7 age group also enjoyed story-time with the H.E. Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling, Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Jerome Fitzgerald and Assistant Commissioner of Police, Anthony Ferguson.

BTC selected students from the 5 to 17 age range with the assistance of Social Services, Urban Renewal, and Families of All Murder Victims (FOAM), an organization dedicated to aiding murder victim’s survivors with moral support, grocery bill assistance and other programmes to help families cope.

Also invited to participate were the children of BTC’s adopted home, the Old Bight Mission Home in Cat Island. BTC has been their sponsor since 2012, assisting with renovations and supplies as the school needs and visiting the children twice a year.

The children of the home, along with their administrator, Cindy Moss, were flown up to Nassau a day early and were treated to a day at Atlantis and an evening at the movie theatre before the day of activities with BTC School Aid.

At the event, all of the children could choose from an array of services and supplies to prepare them for the school year.

At a grooming station, boys could get fresh new haircuts and shapeups while girls got manicures and hair braiding. Dental and health stations were on site where children received screenings and taught health and hygiene skills.

A bookstore was set-up on site where each child could select a book of their choice to take home; and every child left with a BTC backpack filled with school supplies and a $35.00 grocery voucher.

– The children were not the only one’s invited to join in the day’s events. Parent’s enjoyed a number of educational and fun activities including a parenting seminar from Director of Youth, K. Darron Turnquest, health and nutrition tips, and free bowling.

While their parents got some much deserved grown-up time, children were invited to play carnival and arcade games, jump in the bouncing castle, and enjoy a performance from Julien ‘Believe’ Thompson.

Facilitating and chaperoning games, stalls, and seminars throughout the day were BTC’s iVolunteers.

Over 40 BTC staff volunteered their Saturday to set up and help throughout the day, demonstrating that BTCs commitment to education, youth development, and community is larger than philanthropy, and is a part of a deep-rooted culture of social responsibility at the company.

BTC Starmaker Tonesha Smith plays a carnival game with one of the invited children at BTC’s 2nd Annual School Aid event.

 

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