Bahamas News

TCI: Generous support pouring in for Autism Classroom, more needed to rescue the site

Published

6 years ago

January 12, 2018

#TurksandCaicos, January 12, 2018 – Providenciales – The outpouring of financial and moral support for the mission to raise a year’s worth of operational funds for the Hope Foundation for Autism Awareness special classroom is described as generous by the founders, as the organization moves steadily toward its ultimate goal.

Maxcia Rigby, Director of the Hope Foundation today said to Magnetic Media, “I think it’s going well, we have raised over a thousand dollars on the link and there is more to come from people who have pledged to support at the end of the month.”

The story of the financial shortfall of the classroom broke just over a week ago and an appeal for assistance has attracted comments and reviews from thousands of people both in the Turks and Caicos and abroad.

“We’ve also gotten a few more contacts internationally and this will open the door for more support and possibly someone adopting us.”

It takes $60,000 a year to run the Autism classroom, which is located at the Mills Institute in Juba Sound, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands. Almando and Maxcia Rigby, who started the Hope Foundation when they were confronted with autism in their second son, Isreal have taken what could have remained a personal challenge and made it a national blessing.

“When Isreal was diagnosed with autism at the age of three we didn’t know what to do. As a mother I felt confused and depressed. My whole pregnancy played out in my mind. I figured I did something wrong. However also as a mother I couldn’t stay in this state very long. I realized that my son needed me. I needed to find out how I could help him and surely there were others like me who knew what to do. I sought out information on the world wide web and I started thinking, what if I shared everything I knew with others. How could I just help my son, what about other children and families right here in TCI affected by this? I had my family and friends who were supporting me, what about people who didn’t have this? Hope could be that for them! About a year after Isreal’s diagnosis, we started Hope.”

A generous heart was the impetus for this organisation launching in the first place, and more generous support is what will keep it going. Magnetic Media’s observation of this amazing family and their devotion to their cause is what led to the idea that anyone could ‘Pay a Day’ to save the classroom. For $160.00 USD, a person or family could pay for a day of operations at the school; the goal is to get 365 like-minded people to come forward with cash.

Hope’s Director is grateful for the campaign and shared that there have been major strides for the special education room, including an integration of students into mainstream school.

“We started the year with eight children; seven boys and one girl, including my son Isreal and two teachers. That week I took my vacation from work to be at the room but it was a challenge even with the three of us there. The teachers worked tirelessly and eventually they settled down. Parents and children loved the room and by the following term we started to introduce interactions with Mills Institute. The children started attending devotions, sports events, presented at the Christmas concert and even the Spelling BEE! In 2016 one of our students got 1st place in the K2 Spelling Bee and another got 2nd place in the grade one Spelling Bee! Our teachers work so hard and our students have grown so much in this room. We had two students who transitioned to mainstream school and one who is taking Math classes without an aide.”

It would be a tragedy to allow this service to our children and families living, coping and overcoming the hurdles of Autism to have to close down. Due to the overwhelming requests, there is now an online way to support; follow this link and share this story so that we together, can save the all-important Hope Autism Classroom.

#MagneticMediaNews

#HopeFoundation

#PayaDayforHope

Related Topics:#HopeFoundation #magneticmedianews #PayaDayforHope

Up Next

US President Trump proposes radical Green Card policy change, Caribbean residents demand similar measure from own governments

Don't Miss

Public Forecast for The Bahamas and the Turks & Caicos islands, January 12, 2018

Deandrea Hamilton

Bahamas News

Bahamas economic growth

Published

3 days ago

May 4, 2024

Shanieka

Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

The Bahamas’ economy is in good standing according to reports from the Bahamas National Statistical Institute which released the Quarterly Gross Domestic Product Series. They indicate that quarterly GDP trends for 2023 saw increases compared to 2022, a sign of recovery from the Covid 19 pandemic.

The most significant increase was 9.9 percent in the first quarter of 2023, and the industries responsible for the growth include Accommodations and food, construction and Arts.

Bahamas News

RBC appoints new Country Manager and Area Vice President for Turks & Caicos

Published

3 days ago

May 4, 2024

Shanieka

RBC Royal Bank (Bahamas) Limited (“RBC”) is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Kerryl-Lyn King-Henry as Country Manager and Area Vice President (“AVP”), Personal and Commercial Banking, Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI).

In her new role as Country Manager and AVP, King-Henry will take on full responsibility for the bank’s operations, strategy, and development in the TCI market, with a strong focus on solidifying partnerships with the Government, regulatory bodies, and the local community.

King-Henry brings to the role a dynamism influenced by nearly 25 years of industry experience. Prior to her new appointment, she served as AVP of Business Banking in Trinidad and Tobago. She has held progressively senior roles within both personal and commercial banking, as well as various functional units.

King-Henry holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, with a specialization in Leadership, FinTech and Big Data Analysis, in addition to a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. Further enriching her professional profile, Kerryl-Lyn is a certified John C. Maxwell Coach, Trainer, Teacher, and Speaker. Her passion for leadership and development is matched by her commitment to community service, as she actively volunteers her time and leverages her professional expertise to mentor and support others. “

Kerryl-Lyn’s extensive experience and proven leadership capabilities make her the perfect choice to lead our operations in the Turks & Caicos Islands,” said Ericka Rolle, RBC’s Managing Director and Vice President, Personal Banking, The Bahamas and TCI.

“Her commitment to excellence, combined with a genuine passion for community engagement, aligns perfectly with our Bank’s purpose of helping clients thrive and communities prosper. We are excited to see the positive impact she will undoubtedly bring to her new role,” she added.

Bahamas News

Get your laugh on, March On show coming to Turks and Caicos with box office at IGA Friday and Saturday

Published

4 days ago

May 3, 2024

Shanieka

Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

After resounding success in the Bahamas, hit play ‘March On, The Story of Us’ has been inundated with requests to take their show on the road, and the first location they’ll be hitting is Providenciales Turks and Caicos with tickets on sale this weekend from May 3 to 5.

Magnetic Media spoke to Gea Pierre, playwright, who told us the TCI was a natural first choice for the cast and crew.

“We started ‘March On’ in November 2023 and it was really an opportunity for us to tell a story, the story of the Bahamas and to encompass the nations that we have an amazing relationship with like the Turks and Caicos,” she continued “We really got a lot of people calling [for the play] from [the TCI], so much so we really had to pay attention.”

The response to ‘March On’ at home and abroad was overwhelming.

“To say it went well is an understatement, even before we opened we got calls from Canada, from all over the US with people wanting us to come and perform.”

And take the show on the road they did! Gea and her team have launched “March On: The Tour” and will be in Providenciales to perform on May 10th and 11th. It’s the first of a number of stops which include Nassau and several US locations.

A ticket booth will be set up from today, Friday May 3 in the foyer of IGA grocery store beginning at 1 p.m. Friday and then again all day on Saturday, allowing residents to purchase with cash.

Online tickets are available for purchase with credit cards. Then the full team returns on Friday, May 11 for the actual showing at 8 pm and their two showings on Saturday at 4pm and 8 pm. The venue is Brayton Hall, Providenciales under the patronage of Washington Misick, TCI Premier and First Lady Delthia Misick.

Describing the close familial relationships between the TCI and the Bahamas, for many on the crew it will be like coming home Gea told us, for others it will be a treat to visit for the first time, the places that their grandparents described.

Tickets are only $60 for general seating and $75 for VIP seating.

Gea maintained that the team wanted to keep the show as accessible to residents as possible.

As for why you should come out and see the play, other than the great price point:

“The way that people have responded to it is non stoplaughter, people have been moved to tears because there’s some emotion. It does not only lend to Bahamians. It’s a family drama, and anyone who’s ever been a part of a family is going to get something out of it, and something moving.”