Bankers Association Hosts Country-Wide Back-to-School Giveaway Event

Turks and Caicos, August 22, 2024 – The Bankers Association of the Turks and Caicos Islands successfully held a country-wide Back-toSchool Giveaway event on Saturday, August 17th.

The event took place simultaneously across Providenciales, Grand Turk, North Caicos and South Caicos, bringing together communities from all corners of the islands. The giveaway featured the distribution of backpacks filled with essential school supplies, all sourced through a local small business. The backpacks, available in a wide range of colors and sizes, allowed eager students to select options that best reflected their unique personalities and styles.

Roughly three thousand school children benefitted from this initiative. In addition to the distribution of school supplies, the event also featured a lively atmosphere with food, drinks, games, music, and dancing. Volunteers from every bank in the Turks and Caicos were present on each island, ensuring a smooth and joyful experience for all attendees.

The consensus among the volunteers was that it was truly heartwarming to witness the excitement and sheer glee on the children’s faces as they explored their backpacks, treating them as treasured possessions.

The event organizing committee was Co-Chaired by Mr. Kenrick Walters, General Manager of Bordier Bank and Mrs. Kerryl-Lyn King-Henry, Country Manager and Area Vice President of RBC Royal Bank. Mr. Walters shared his thoughts on the initiative: “While all of our member banks support the community in various ways, we were excited to collaborate as an association on helping to ensure that every child in our community has access to the school supplies that they need to succeed. It’s about giving back to the community and supporting the next generation.”

Ms. King-Henry encouraged the young people of Turks and Caicos to take advantage of all available opportunities: “Our member banks offer excellent youth training and leadership programs, and we are keen on supporting projects that enhance financial literacy and promote career opportunities. This Back-to-School Giveaway is just one example of how we can make a positive impact.”

President of the Bankers Association, Mr. Marcus Samuel, who also serves as the Managing Director of British Caribbean Bank, stated “We are happy to have invested and will continue to invest in our youth as this planted seed will become tomorrow’s tree which will feed us in our latter years.”

He further emphasized the importance of community outreach: “Among the many functions of our association, one of the most important is community outreach. Our commitment to community outreach is multifaceted with one of our primary focuses being promoting financial literacy across all stages of life – from basic financial literacy to understanding the complexities of lending and debt management. Additionally, we aim to showcase the numerous opportunities awaiting residents in the banking sector.”

The Bankers Association extends its heartfelt thanks to all staff members who participated and community partners whose invaluable support made this nationwide event a resounding success.