Island Companies expand Gifts For Kids Christmas appeal programme

Renard Moxam from Island Companies and John Rea 
place gifts in the Gifts For Kids box

Wednesday, December 3, 2003

This Christmas will be brighter for even more children in the Cayman Islands, thanks to the expansion of Island Companies' Gifts For Kids Programme. 

The scheme was launched last Christmas and generated a tremendous amount of interest and sparked a genuine spirit of giving within the community. 

"Witnessing the enthusiasm that was created by Gifts For Kids inspired us to expand on the theme of giving and we subsequently increased the scope of the programme," said Renard Moxam from Island Companies. 
"By contributing an incentive for donating gifts, we have confidence that many more children will benefit from an increase in participation by our community".

The incentive comes in the form of a $10,000 piece of jewellery donated by Island Companies. To be eligible for the draw, people must drop off a donation of an unwrapped gift that will be distributed by community leaders to needy children around Cayman (Little Cayman/Cayman Brac) later in the month. 

Gifts For Kids is in conjunction with Cayman 27's Christmas For Kids programme, which is designed to raise funds for Social Services through sponsorship from local businesses. 

The Gifts For Kids initiative has been warmly embraced by Cayman Island Social Services who have been working with Cayman27's Christmas For Kids programme for the past seven years. 

"By adding Gifts For Kids to the overall programme, the public can get involved in the festive spirit and give back to the community," said Catherine Tyson, Community Development Manager of the Community Development Unit. "Offering a draw and expanding the project simply means a happier Christmas for more children in the Cayman Islands".

And how do the children receive these gifts? First, on the morning of 22 December, with the help of the Kings Sports Centre, Breezes by the Bay, Island Companies and Community Development Unit, a breakfast party will be held at the Kings Sports Centre. Santa Claus will be there to meet the children, give out candies and hear their Christmas wish-lists. 

Then, because previous attempts at landing his sleigh had proved difficult, Father Christmas will be safely escorted to each district to deliver the gifts to the local officers and throw candies out to the children as he passes through. The officers will then give the gifts out to the children between then and Christmas.

The main launch of the Gifts For Kids programme will occur at the Island Companies Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours event on Thursday, 4 December. 

Drop-off boxes however will be in four locations. The event on 4 December is the ideal time to bring a gift as it is probably one of the Islands' largest and best-attended events and is really the start of the Christmas spirit for many people. Island Companies will be continuing the programme right up until 18 December to make the most of everyone's generosity.

On that day, Island Companies will be announcing the Grand Prize winner of the $ 10,000 piece of jewellery live on CITN as it broadcasts the annual Champagne at Tiffany's event.

Island Companies has designated four stores as drop off points, The Duty Free Centre on Edward Street, any Island Companies Store at the Anchorage Centre, Duty Free on the Beach at Galleria Plaza and Duty Free on the Waterfront.

Everyone is invited to bring a new, unwrapped gift into one of the stores and place it in the boxes over the coming weeks.

For more details on the Gifts For Kids programme, please contact Tony Wasserman at Island Companies on 945-5800 (ext. 246) or visit one of the drop-off stores.

Back...