In the spirit of giving back this holiday season, Cornèr Bank (Overseas) Limited led the charge in making the first donation of $5,000 to a new Digital Literacy Project for underprivileged Bahamian students.
Contributing to the mandate to curve the digital divide in our nation, the Bahamian-based institution jumped at the opportunity to collaborate with the Rotary Club of East Nassau to reach the first financial mark in this initiative.
During the cheque presentation, Chief Executive Officer of Cornèr Bank (Overseas) Ltd., Christine Russell, said “it is a pleasure for Cornèr Bank to partner with Rotary. We strongly believe that education is important and necessary for nation-building.”
“Educating our youth, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to continue to attend school is so important, and we are so proud to be a part of this initiative,” she said.
Realizing that many Bahamian students are currently experiencing educational setbacks due to the pandemic, the project is proposed to primarily assist students in foster care, who are studying from home as a result.
The Rotary Club of East Nassau plans to purchase 225 laptops totaling $45,000.
President of the Rotary Club, Adrian White cheerfully expressed his gratitude to the bank for helping them to reach the first mark in their fundraising initiative.
“Without Cornèr Bank, we wouldn’t have gotten out of the gates, and when we get to our goal, we’ll be here to thank you once again and celebrate the accomplishment with you,” he said.
Mr. White also noted that digital literacy challenges existed before the COVID-19 pandemic but is more relevant today as some students are forced to homeschool. He said “there are no face-to-face classroom education opportunities, and corporate sponsors like Cornèr Bank (Overseas) Ltd. are coming together with the Rotary Club of East Nassau to really make an impact and reduce that digital divide.”
Cornèr Bank (Overseas) Ltd. has been in the Bahamas for over twenty-four years and became the first bank to launch a self-execution platform for Bahamian residents to invest in international markets. The bank also recently won the title of Best Private Banking Services - The Bahamas 2020 by International Investor Magazine.
While recognizing the need for digital literacy and access for all Bahamians, the Bank noted that this is just the first of several initiatives to give back this season.
Sweeting, Project Read Chair of Rotary Club of East Nassau; Mauro Casu, First Vice President at Cornèr Bank (Overseas) Ltd., Jamaal Rolle, Public Relations of Rotary Club of East Nassau; Christine Russell, President & Chief Executive Officer at Cornèr Bank (Overseas) Ltd,; Birgit Ludig-Dridi, First Vice President at Cornèr Bank (Overseas) Ltd. and Adrian White, President of Rotary Club of East Nassau.
