MEDIA RELEASE

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands – Beaches Turks and Caicos resort returning guests, Moe Bertelsmann and family recently presented softball gear and jerseys to the Turks and Caicos Islands Softball Federation and the Sports Commission for the second consecutive year. The family along with the Sandals Foundation team made the presentation to Godfrey Been, President of the Softball Federation and Cheryl Obiakpani, Board Member of the Sports Commission, at the High School Softball competition at the Ball Park in downtown Providenciales.

The supplies, which include bats, balls, catching helmets, gloves, shin guards, hard hats, catching gear, and practice playing gear will bolster the federation’s ability to provide instructional training while allowing coaches and the players to be more prepared not only for this season but the long term.

Managing Director James McAnally shared, “Guests are one of the Sandals Foundation’s greatest partners in providing support to our islands throughout the Caribbean. We are grateful to the Bertelsmann family for their donation for the second consecutive year to the Softball Federation and hope it will help in developing this fast growing sport.”

In sharing the inspiration behind the family’s donation, daughter, Alexa Bertelsmann noted, “as a family we are passionate about the sport of softball and the physical and mental discipline that these activities provide for our youth. When we did our research on the sport here in Turks and Caicos Islands and shared with other families and organisations, they all decided to help for the second year. This year we brought along with us one of my friends and a softball pitcher, Kathleen Freeman and donated some of our lightly used equipment along with friends, coach Travis King from the EC Bullets and the Unity organisations.”

Softball Federation president, Godfrey Been, in expressing his appreciation for the gifts shared, “these items came at the right time. As a federation, we have been working on introducing and improving the sports at every high school throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands. With this donation, we now have gears to play practice games as well as helping our local coaches with providing for their players and being better prepared for the future.”

“Last year at the beginning of the softball high school season, we started this partnership and the impact has been great. We are seeing teams being more prepared this season because of the information, gear, training material and the support from these partners. We are grateful to the Bertelsmann family and the Sandals Foundation for supporting softball here in the region. We will take this and “run” with it to get softball to where it once was, the number one sport not only at the high school level but also introducing this sport into the primary schools,” Been added.

Coach of the Wesley Methodist High school team, Pedro Williams shared, “for our high school players to be receiving playing tips from collegiate semi-pro players is an asset. For Alexa and Kathleen Freeman to be able to provide one on one coaching tactics for these students with undoubtedly create a positive impact going forward. I hope that in the near future, we will be able to have an invitational team visiting to have practice games with our teams here in the Turks and Caicos Islands.”

Esfraini Estrella, catcher of the Grand Turk based HJ Robinson High School’s softball team was impressed by Alexa who joined a few players on the field and traded catching techniques. “As young players, to see Sandals Foundation and guests sharing with us and even taking the time to give us some playing tips really helped us. I am inspired to continue playing the game.” 

Sandals Foundation:

The Sandals Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in the United States, a CTA registered charity in Canada and registered charity- Charity Commission England & Wales that was created to continue and expand upon the philanthropic work that Sandals Resorts International has undertaken.  It is the culmination of close to four decades of dedication to playing a meaningful role in the lives of the communities where we operate across the Caribbean. The Sandals Foundation funds projects in three core areas: education, community and the environment. One hundred percent of the monies contributed by the general public to the Sandals Foundation go directly to programs benefiting the Caribbean community. To learn more about the Sandals Foundation, visit online at www.sandalsfoundation.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.