Scotia Bank & Sun Oil Team Up with Gymnasts Corporate Sponsors Make Future of Gym Stars Brighter

Nassau, The Bahamas – Scotia Bank and Sun Oil (FOCOL) teamed up with Bahamas Star Gymnastics (“BSG”) and Bahamas Gymnastics Parent Booster Club (“BGPBC”) to give the gymnastics program a tremendous financial boost.

Scotia Bank made their presentation to the Club and directed the proceeds for the development of athletes who qualify under the Sponsor-A-Star Scholarship Program. The program is open to all government primary school students who earn a GPA of 2.50 or above. One of the first qualifiers of the program is Cheyanne Powell, a student of Gerald Cash Primary School, who will experience her first taste of international competition at Atlantis Crown Gymnastics Invitational as a flag bearer for the Bahamas in Level 2.

Leah Davis, Scotia Bank’s Senior Manager, Marketing, Product and Public Relations, was on hand for the presentation which was accepted by BGPBC President, Rita Curtis and Treasurer Yasmin Pratt. Kevan Dean, a parent volunteer and Federation representative for the Club, was instrumental in securing these corporate donations.

SunOil Executives Dexter Adderley and Clint Rolle made a formal visit to the BSG training facility to review the development of the program and to assess the effective use of their contribution. Mr. Adderley expressed that SunOil is committed to remain a corporate partner supporting the program based on the level of transparency and accountability that BSG and BGPBC have demonstrated.

Sun Oil (FOCOL) has contributed repeatedly to the gymnastics program since its inception in 2010. They have funded the Cheermania Primary School Cheerleading Competition, the BGPBC-Bahamas Star Gymnastics Invitational, the Equipment Fund and team travel to overseas competitions. The funding earmarked for the Equipment Fund along with donations from other corporate sponsors was utilized to secure additional apparatus for the Men’s Artistic Gymnastics Program, launched in January 2012, such as Pommel Horse, Parallel Bars and Rings. New acquisitions from seed money injected into the Equipment Fund also included general use training tools such as spotting blocks, octagons, backhand spring spotter and trapezoids. The benefit to the gymnasts and their coaches will be evident in their performance at the 2012 Atlantis Crown Gymnastics Invitational and future competitive meets.

Also attributable to the generous donations of other corporate sponsors such as Castrol, McDonalds (DanBrad), Bahamas Welding, Dairy Queen and Mr. Pretzels is the certification program for coaches. All of Bahamas Star Gymnastics coaches are safety certified through the American Heart Association’s Basic First Aid/CPR /AED program. The majority of coaches have completed GymCert’s Basic Safety and Levels 1 – 6 courses. GymCert is authorized by USA Gymnastics University to deliver on-line courses for the Junior Olympic Compulsory Level Program.

Leah Davis, Scotia Bank’s Senior Manager, Marketing, Product and Public Relations (at center right) presents donation to Bahamas Gymnastics Parent Booster Club. At left Treasurer, Yasmin Pratt and President Rita Curtis accepts award. At right, Kevan Dean, parent volunteer and GFB representative looks on flanked by young members of competitive team squad. At far left, Cheyanne Powell, Sponsor-A-Star Scholarship first qualifier and beneficiary.

Leah Davis, Scotia Bank’s Senior Manager, Marketing, Product and Public Relations, gives encouragement to Cheyanne Powell, first qualifier to Sponsor-A-Star Scholarship Program who will continue to train thanks to donation from ScotiaBank. Powell will compete for the Bahamas at 2012 Atlantis Crown Gymnastics Invitational. BGPBC Club Treasurer, Yasmin Pratt, looks on.

Sun Oil’s Executive, Dexter Adderley, far left and Clint Rolle rear left, make a courtesy call on BSG and BGPBC to assess use of corporate donations. Flanked by members of boys program with Head Coach Alexander Mayet and Staff Coach, Andy Diaz. Also pictured are Yasmin Pratt, Treasurer (front left) and Rita Curtis, President (front right) and Kevan Dean, parent volunteer and GFB Representative (far right).

Happy Bahamas Star Gymnastics coaching staff who have benefitted from the coaching certification program and the use of additional equipment and training tools acquired from corporate donations, the largest donor being SunOil (FOCOL). Forward: Kachara Marshall, Idania Garcia-Stroud and Christina Knowles. Rear: Alexander Mayet, Yaspin Smith. Sapphire Porras and Andy Diaz. Missing from picture: Monique de Swanton and LeKeisha Bostwick.

Young Alejandro Mayet demonstrates on Men’s Artistic Gymnastics Rings acquired with donations from corporate sponsors such as SunOil (Focol).

Click HERE for 2012 Atlantis Crown Invitational Schedule of Events