Bahamas News
TCI Autism Classroom in jeopardy, founders launch campaign to save specialised site
#TurksandCaicos, January 3, 2017 – Providenciales – An urgent call for help is designed to rescue a classroom for children with Autism from extinction and it launches a national campaign where just about anyone can afford to help.
The Hope Foundation completed the classroom at the Mills Institute in August of 2015 and in late 2017, founders of the organization hit a financial snag – funds were dried up and the classroom, which caters to eight children was under a very real threat of closing up for good. That’s when Maxcia and Almando Rigby reached out for help…
“When I was contacted with the news that this important classroom was in trouble, I prayed. Immediately, an idea came, and I knew instantly that it could work. If those of us who believe in the value and opportunity the Hope Foundation classroom brings to our educational landscape were to support financially, together, we could alleviate any concerns about money to operate the class. Individually, it would be manageable and cumulatively, the financial contribution would be sufficient,” said Deandrea Hamilton, family friend and owner of #MagneticMedia.
It takes about $60,000 per year to operate the #HopeFoundation Autism Classroom in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands.
Ms. Hamilton added, “As one bill, the need would be out of reach for most people, but if we shared the bill and literally took care of the classroom one day at a time, then it becomes more do-able. It takes roughly, $160.00 per day to keep the classroom open and functioning ideally. I thought to myself, hey, I can do that and I can even get my own son involved – we’ve pledged and will donate to two days of the classroom. That means 363 days are left for residents and supporters to donate.”
Magnetic Media with the Hope Foundation for #AutismAwareness is calling the campaign and the challenge, “I’ll Pay a Day for Hope!”
Almando Rigby is the Public Relations Officer for the Hope Foundation, he too had an immediate faith that the concept and campaign could work.
“Sponsoring a day will allow our students and their teachers to return to school safe and happy about learning. It will also allow us to open our doors to four more students who can benefit. The Hope Autism Classroom supports learning through Individual Educational Plans, center based learning, one on one teaching and group activities. We also aim to educate based on high social skills opportunities and interactions with typically developing children. The classroom is a big part of Hope and it speaks to the potential all of our children have to learn and succeed. ALL children have the right to be educated without prejudice, it’s their God given right to have a place in this world and the Hope Autism Classroom in that place,” explained Almando Rigby, parent and founder of Hope Foundation.
Director & Chairman of Hope Foundation, Maxcia Rigby explained that the outpouring since the inception of Hope has been phenomenal, but shared that “the last part of last year, particularly this new school year has been the toughest for Hope. Due to the recent storms, fundraising has proven almost impossible. Rightly so, donations have been focused on hurricane relief efforts and because we rely heavily on corporate and community support which is now diverted to hurricane assistance, we may have to close our room…we are hoping for good success through the I’ll Pay a Day for Hope campaign.”
You can pay a day now. The need is urgent and you can make a deposit directly to The Hope Foundation’s ScotiaBank account (#755389). Contact Almando or Maxcia Rigby today: 649-332-9817 or 649-332-1977 and let them know that you are willing to Pay a Day for Hope.
NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producers and distributors of Coca-Cola and Dasani products concluded their 10 weeklong Twist To Win campaign with four $5,000 Mall at Marathon shopping sprees.
The campaign which was available throughout the entire Bahamas allowed consumers to enter by purchasing a 20oz bottle with a yellow cap
from the following brands: Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola No Sugar, Sprite, Fanta Orange, or Fanta Grape. Each yellow-cap had a unique alpha numeric code underneath which they submitted to the Twist To Win WhatsApp number.
With each qualifying purchase, participants residing in The Bahamas were entered to win instant prizes and into a grand prize draw to win one of four $5,000 shopping sprees at the Mall at Marathon.
Participants also enjoyed exciting instant prizes such as: Airpods, JBL Speakers, premium Coca-Cola merchandise, $500 Visa gift cards and Amazon, Spotify and Apple Music digital gift cards.
Out of 76,000 plus submissions, Brian Bethel, Ashia Demeritte, Merlin Adams, and Taraceta Neely won the coveted Mall at Marathon shopping sprees at the following select stores, Kelly’s House & Home, The Sports Center, John Bull, Brass & Leather, and BTC.
Leading up to the grand finale shopping spree, Coca-Cola hosted a Trivia Showdown with the eight finalists to determine the four winners. Finalists were tested on their knowledge of World History, Pop Culture, Caribbean Bottling Company and Coca-Cola Facts!
After a few rousing rounds of trivia, the four winners were declared after each winning their spot in the shopping spree by answering their questions correctly and choosing the “Grand Prize” Coca-Cola labeled bottles at random.
The morning of the shopping spree Coca-Cola gave the winners exclusive access to the Mall at Marathon and its participating stores before
their usual operating hours. Grand prize winners were greeted with wide smiles from Coca-Cola brand representatives and morning bites before the big event.
At the start of the thirty-minute clock the grand prize winners along with each of their Coca-Cola shopping assistants ran to the various stores collecting items in their arms and carts.
Merlin Adams, a husband and father of four was proud to have executed his game-plan at the end of the shopping spree. With toys, a new phone and materials for his home from Kelly’s, Adams felt accomplished in what he gathered.
Taraceta Neely, a winner from Eleuthera collected beautiful bags for herself and relatives from Brass and Leather and Brian Bethel bought matching athletic and outdoor wear from The Sports Center for his family.
The final winner Ashia Demeritte bought linens and household items in addition to a new phone from BTC right in time for Christmas.
Caribbean Bottling Company is proud to share the real magic of Coca-Cola with the grand prize winners and the may instant prize winners across the Twist To Win campaign. For more updates on new products, promotions, and events follow www.cbcbahamas.com.
Bahamas News
The Coca-Cola Art Project Astonishes Art Lovers at The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival
NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producers and distributors of Coca-Cola and Dasani products displayed
their astonishing Coca-Cola Art Project (CCAP), during Baha Mar’s five-day Culinary & Arts Festival. Earlier this year, Coca-Cola partnered with The University of The Bahamas’ Visual Art and Design Department for a culturally rich art competition. UB’s art students were challenged to create pieces surrounding the theme, Bahamian music.
As a result, 20 student works of art were made, with four students declared as winners at the CCAP exhibit opening in Baha Mar’s ECCHO: Art Gallery in August. To recreate the culturally stimulating magic felt at the exhibit’s premiere, the CCAP was featured at the FUZE Art Tent during The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival.
Nine incredible pieces of art lined the walls of the Coca-Cola Art Project, four of which included the winning pieces from Jhanaisia Cole,
with ‘Gaulin Bride’; Alyssa Pinder, with ‘Shotgun Wedding’; Nelson Gray, with ‘Untitled’; and Jaela Bowe, with the piece ‘Whims of Obeah, a Folktail’. Additionally, an intimate listening room was built. It displayed students’ artistic processes, UB Visual Art and Design representatives, and a recap of the exhibit opening for audiences.
Art enthusiasts also enjoyed premium limited-edition CCAP keepsakes at the booth. Journals which featured a collage of all 20 student submissions on the front and back cover, postcards with an art piece on the cover along with the student’s name, title, dimension and materials on the back and pens designed with the CCAP’s dynamic logo.
Throughout the art festival diverse groups of people visited the art tent taking in the displays while enjoying the artistic insights from the
listening booth.
Community and culture are always at the forefront of Caribbean Bottling Community, and it was boldly showcased during The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival for the third consecutive year.
For more details on the Coca-Cola Art Project, events and new products visit www.cbcbahamas.com today!
NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Wines & Spirits (CWS), The Bahamas’ premier wines and spirits distributor delighted Jollification
attendees with bubbles from their Bottega and Bouvet Ladubay sparkling wines and Besserat de Bellefon champagne lines.
Located in the Monument Circle on The Retreat grounds, CWS transformed The Retreat Garden into a lush lounge with Besserat, Bouvet and their latest product addition, Bottega, during the two-day affair.
The festivities kicked off Friday during BNT Member’s Night. Guests enjoyed exclusive offerings from CWS’s catalogue, offered exclusively to members. Complimentary mixes or glasses on the rocks included El Tequileno tequila, Hard Truth whiskey, House of Angostura rum, Cross Keys gin, Nemiroff vodka and a slew of wines such as Fonesca Bin, Bottega and Besserat.
Guests also savored the ‘Jolly Paloma’ cocktail, an instant favorite made with El Tequileno tequila, Schweppes Grapefruit and Domaine de Paris rose wine. To end the night, guests were treated to branded limited-edition wine tumblers as keepsakes.
On Saturday and Sunday, Jollification attendees delighted in glasses or bottles of champagne and sparkling brut or rosé wines while taking
in the comfort of the chic lounge. In addition to purchasing bottles for onsite consumption, consumers were also able to purchase bottles as gifts whether for themselves or someone special.
The sophisticated “bubble lounge” lounge was decked with velvet couches, gold rimmed cocktail tables, blue and pink pillows, and a white floral branded backdrop created for capturing the perfect picture.
Caribbean Wines & Spirits, a historic partner of the Bahamas National Trust was pleased to support Jollification 2025 to kick off the festive season and share their expansive range of spirits.
To keep up to date with all CWS products and events, visit their website at www.cwsbahamas.com today.
