GC Foster chairman bats for tertiary institutions
Published: Saturday | August 1, 2009
Irwine Clare (left), Team Jamaica Bickle president, hands over his organisation's scholarship cheque of US$10,000 to Silvera Castro, chairman of G.C. Foster College of Physical Education, at a brief presentation ceremony, held at the school's boardroom on Monday. Looking on is Athletics Director Ventley Brown. - photo by Anthony Foster
Silvera Castro, chairman of G.C. Foster College for Physical Education has called on corporate Jamaica to provide more help for tertiary institutions.
Castro was speaking on Monday, shortly after accepting a cheque for US$10,000 (approximately J$890,000) from Team Jamaica Bickle to underwrite scholarships to the college.
Castro was happy for the assistance given by Team Jamaica Bickle, but believes corporate Jamaica can do more.
"We hope that corporate Jamaica will come on board in recognising the abundance of talent in Jamaica that needs assistance," he said.
sixth sponsorship cheque
On Monday, the United States-based Team Jamaica Bickle (TJB) organisation, which for the past several years has worked with community organisations and businesses to host athletes from Jamaica and the Caribbean participating at the Penn Relays, handed over its sixth sponsorship cheque.
"This means a lot to us because from an ecumenical point of view, quite a number of our students find it a challenge getting their tuition fees together.
"We see this US$10,000 as a great help, a great assistance to our athletes to assist them in realising their goals," added Castro. G.C. Foster College's fee for the coming year is said to be $175,000.
participation important
Irwine Clare, TJB president, presented the cheque to G.C. Foster College Chairman Castro in the presence of Athletics Director Ventley Brown. Clare said participation in various meets was important
"Our philosophy is to help our athletes to be all that they can be and realising not everyone will past the finish line first, but the fact that you are a participant, you are a winner," Clare said.
Clare said they see G.C. Foster as the foundation of the athletics programme in Jamaica. He said that was the reason behind their intervention.
help for third, fourth
He added that they wanted to help the third and fourth-place athletes to either better themselves or to become the next generation of coaches.
"Because, in order for the Usain Bolts and Veronica Campbell-Browns to come out, our home-grown coaches must be given the tools to get to that level ... and I think Jamaica and G.C. Foster have demonstrated they have the capacity to do so, but having the capacity alone needs support," Clare said.
