LOCAL CELEBRITIES AND ROLE MODELS JOIN DIGICEL FOUNDATION TO READ ACROSS JAMAICA

LOCAL CELEBRITIES AND ROLE MODELS JOIN DIGICEL FOUNDATION TO READ ACROSS JAMAICA
Over 35 schools and 5000 students to benefit from the JTA-led initiative

Kingston, Jamaica – 04 May 2010: The Digicel Foundation will participate in Jamaica Teachers Association’s (JTA) annual “Read Across Jamaica Day” on Wednesday, May 5, 2010. Operating under the theme for Child’s Month “All I want is a chance to grow up”, some of Jamaica’s most noted sports personalities and other role models will join the Digicel Foundation to visit over 25 schools across Jamaica and reading to over 5.000 students at the Basic and Primary School levels (Grades 1-4).

According to Major Robert Neish, “The Digicel Foundation views this as a perfect opportunity to return to schools that we have previously completed projects, and build on that relationship by promoting literacy within the schools and getting the community members involved. The education of our children is of paramount importance; this project allows us to reach and interact with them at a critical stage, and we are extremely proud to be a part of such a venture”, Neish further stated.

Some of these local celebrities that will support this initiative are members of the National Netball team,  Norman Peart (Usain Bolt’s  Manager), members of the Special Olympic Team, and Reggae Boys Kemmar Daley and Mario Swaby. Theodore Whitmore, Warren Barrett and Horace Reid from the Jamaica Football Federation will also be participating in the event.

“We have the buy-in support of our staff members across the island,” commented Major Neish. “Not only will our staff members in the Kingston office be accompanying us, but so will staff in St. James, St. Ann and Manchester,” he stated.

Digicel Foundation is even more excited to be executing this initiative on Teachers Day. “We are very appreciative of the hard work and dedication of our teachers. They are operating under very trying circumstances so we will also take the opportunity to take over their classes and present them with a small token,” Major Neish shared.

The  “Read across Jamaica Day” concept is one that encourages the participation of parents, business leaders, public officials and community members to go into the schools across Jamaica and encourage students to read at all levels.