At Thursday's press launch for the ‘Team Jamaica on the Road to Beijing’ fundraising campaign, Team Jamaica Bickle President Irwine Clare made no apologies about their intent to utilize the entertainment and business fraternities in a major fundraising campaign to raise funds for Jamaica’s athletes competing in the XXIX Olympic Games in Beijing in August.
“I make no apologies; our bottom line to provide financial support for our athletes,” Clare stated matter-of-factly. “Team Jamaica Bickle has issued a mandate to raise no less than $25,000 for our athletes this year, and with the support of our Reggae ambassadors, corporate, and individual supporters, we hope to donate triple that amount.”
“I make no apologies; our bottom line to provide financial support for our athletes,” Clare stated matter-of-factly. “Team Jamaica Bickle has issued a mandate to raise no less than $25,000 for our athletes this year, and with the support of our Reggae ambassadors, corporate, and individual supporters, we hope to donate triple that amount.”
Rich LaMotte, VP Records’ Director of Promotions, announced that VP Records’ Roots sensations Etana and Duane Stephenson, were the first two Reggae acts to sign on to the ‘Team Jamaica on the Road to Beijing’ Reggae Concert, to be held at Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday, August 20th. Clare also announced that prominent Reggae crooner Richie Stephens, who also heads the Royalty Track Club in Jamaica, has also signed on to concert fundraiser. The two major headlining acts will be announced at a later date.
“Team Jamaica Bickle and VP Records are challenging more of our A-list Reggae entertainers to give back to Jamaica by raising funds to give our athletes a chance to represent ‘brand Jamaica’ at the 26th Annual Olympic Games in Beijing, China this August,” Clare stated as LaMotte nodded in agreement at the press conference, hosted by Ruder Finn in NYC.”
Proceeds from the staging will also go toward supporting Jamaican and Caribbean high school athletes participating in the 114th Penn Relays at the University of Pennsylvania in April, in addition to Jamaica’s track and field athletes going to Beijing. All funds raised will be donated in the memory of Olympic Gold Medal Track & Field legend Herb McKenley.
Team Jamaica Bickle marketing coordinator Wycliffe Robinson announced the Team Jamaica Bickle tag drive, urging local Caribbean businesses to put ‘Team Jamaica on the Road to Beijing” canisters in their corporate and business offices, encouraging the general public to make donations to the cause.
Camille McDonald, of America’s Next Model fame, who signed on as a spokeswoman for the ‘Team Jamaica on the Road to Beijing’ campaign, vowed to use her celebrity status to attract support from mainstream celebrity, media, and corporate entities. McDonald is of Jamaican parentage.
“BET, MTV, VH1, and other major needs to be apart of this cause, and I am really honored to be part of this initiative and to use my celebrity to make then and aware and supportive,” stated McDonald at the press conference.
Among the guests were Deputy Consul General of Jamaica Lisa Bryant-Smart; Mrs. Sharon Wolfe, wife of Ambassador Raymond Wolfe; Louis Grant, Vice President of Irie Jam Media, Garfield Comrie of Western Union/Grace Kennedy Remittance Services, Ann-Marie Grant, Executive Director of the American Foundation of the University of the West Indies; emcee for the evening Aubrey Campbell, Jamaica Information Service attaché; Sabrina Hosang, Director of Operations, Caribbean Food Delights; Roland Brammer, Vice President of the Union of Jamaica Alumni Association, and New York based Reggae artists Benny Bwoy, Lynx, and Far-I.
For the past 14 years, Team Jamaica Bickle has provided necessary financial support and services to Jamaican and Caribbean high school athletes participating in the annual Penn Relays track and field competition. Support offered by TJB includes subsidized travel and accommodations, meals, ground transportation, and athletic scholarships to outstanding high school track and field athletes. Past Team Jamaica Bickle alums include Olympic Gold Medalist Veronica Campbell, often dubbed one of the world's fastest women; Olympic Gold Medalist Sherone Simpson; World Championship Silver Medalist Usain "Lightening" Bolt; and Olympian Aileen Bailey, sister of Dancehall legend Capleton.
In the Photo - From left: Garfield Comrie of Western Union, Team Jamaica Bickle Spokeswoman Camille McDonald, VP Records Promotions Director Rich LaMotte, Sabrina Hosang of Caribbean Food Delights, Team Jamaica Bickle Founder and President Irwine Clare, and Patrick Reid of the Jamaica Organization of New Jersey at the 'Team Jamaica on the Road to Beijing' Campaign Press Launch
Source - Ms. Raine Inc
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