For The Love Of The Game
As part of its recently launched Flying Start initiative, Sunwing Foundation has partnered with not-for-profit organization, Sisters Keeper Elite Basketball, to help 100 kids in Jamaica develop their love of basketball and get ready for the school year.
Along with their participation in this year’s Caribbean Hoop Fest taking place in Montego Bay Aug.17 to Aug. 22, the Sisters Keeper team – which includes athletes from the Canada Elite Ontario Basketball women’s team – will also be taking time off the court to give back.
On August 18, they’ll host a basketball camp in partnership with Sunwing Foundation at Montego Bay Community College for local children and aspiring athletes. Attending kids will receive a backpack filled with books, school supplies and athletic gear, packed earlier this week at Sunwing’s head office by the team, family and friends.
“Since 2012, Sisters Keeper Elite has worked to give young women the chance to develop their skills in basketball and steer them towards being contributing members of the community,” says Patrick Shaw, founder, Sisters Keeper Elite Basketball.
And he added: “Providing skills workshops and helping young women achieve their basketball dreams is at the core of our organization.”
The team – including Toronto homegrown athletes Aaliyah Edwards, Rebecca Demeke, Latasha Lattimore and Shyanne Day-Wilson – will also get the chance to play against the women’s National Team, top U19 team and college team during their time in Jamaica.
Stephen Hunter, CEO of Sunwing Travel Group, observed that: “The Sunwing Foundation is committed to supporting youth and education projects in the destinations that we serve. It’s an honour to be able to support these young and talented women, as well as connect them with young, local aspiring athletes.”
And Hunter continued: “This partnership only further embodies Sunwing Foundation’s determination to help young people to succeed in both their education and personal development.”
This donation is the fourth initiative to take place since the launch of the Flying Start program in March of this year.
The first, in partnership with emergency response charity, GlobalMedic, sent 43 boxes of school supplies and donated reading books to the island of Barbuda.
The second, in partnership with Books Give Us Wings, sent gently used and new children’s books to Jamaica in time for National Reading Day (May 8th).
The third initiative sent 250 backpacks filled with gently-used children’s books, essential school supplies and other necessities with Kingston-born, Toronto-based supermodel Stacey McKenzie to Jamaican schools via Sunwing Airlines in April.
For more on Sisters Keeper Elite, go to https://www.sisterskeeperelite.com/ .
And for the latest on the Sunwing Foundation’s Flying Start program, go to www.sunwingfoundation.com .
