RBC Royal Bank today awarded the fast-growing environmental movement Save The Bays a grant for $5,000, praising the organization for its environmental education efforts that mirror the bank’s 10-year, $50 million commitment to making and keeping regional waters fishable, swimmable and drinkable.
Pristine waters are also the core values of one of Save The Bays’ major thrusts going forward – Clifton Waterkeeper that will get a small piece of the latest grant.
But the lion’s share of the grant will go toward education and it was that arm of Save The Bays that has graduated dozens of young people trained as environmental ambassadors in Grand Bahama that was a magnet for the bank.
“RBC Royal Bank in celebration of RBC Blue Water Day is pleased to donate $5,000 to Save The Bays, an organization that believes in creating innovative ways to keep our environment clean while educating individuals to do the same,” said Sharell Carroll, Manager, Corporate Communications, RBC, Bahamas, Cayman and Turks & Caicos Islands.
“The RBC Blue Water Project is an innovative, wide-ranging 10-year global commitment to help provide access to drinkable, swimmable, fishable water, now and for future generations.”
The donation followed a request from Save The Bays for support of its environmental education programs, including Youth Environmental Ambassadors (YEA). Funds will also go toward a train the trainer leadership program directed by the Centre for Creative Leadership in conjunction with Glover & Associates. According to coordinator and Save The Bays Education Director Joseph Darville, the program is led by Sharon Glover, a world renowned creative and sustainable leadership training professional who donates her time to the leadership development program.
“In conjunction with RBC the funds will assist in the training of some 15 young adult facilitators, some of whom will be selected from RBC staff. The Youth Environmental Ambassador Leadership program will be enhanced with a view of establishing this exceptionally successful program in Nassau and the Family Islands,” said Darville. “In this regard RBC will continue to be involved with us as members of their staff are trained and will work with our program to establish a solid core of youthful environmental stewards for safeguarding our sacred heritage way in the future. For that, we are extremely grateful.”
According to Save The Bays CEO Vanessa Haley-Benjamin, M.S., the partnership with RBC Royal Bank speaks volumes about the growing awareness of environmental importance.
“Corporate and community partnerships such as this one are the way forward for environmental organizations such as Save The Bays as we seek to engage the entire nation in the effort to preserve our natural resources for the benefit of future generations,” said Benjamin. “Support is very important to spreading our message of environmental protection throughout the nation.”
“Partnerships with organizations like Save The Bays speak to our commitment to ensuring that our environment is preserved for future generations to come,” said Deborah Zonicle, Market Manager, Products, Marketing & Channels, Bahamas, Cayman and Turks & Caicos Islands. “We also have scheduled tree planting activities with Sadie Curtis Primary school in collaboration with The College of The Bahamas and a beach cleanup activity is scheduled with Save The Bays. We continue to do our part to ensure that we are socially responsible at RBC.”
In addition to its educational efforts, Save The Bays is committed to passage of a Freedom of Information act, environmental protection act, accountability for oil pollution, and an end to unregulated development. With nearly 18,000 Facebook friends, the association is the fastest-growing NGO in The Bahamas.
