The Kiwanis Club of Bridgetown is reporting a decline in corporate contributions to its annual Silver Dollars for Children drive.
(From left) Dean of the St Michael Cathedral Canon Noel Burke, Chairman of the Kiwanis Silver Dollars for Children Drive Rory Hunte, Minister of Education Ronald Jones, President of the Kiwanis Club of Bridgetown Cyril Burke and Director of Communications Flow Barbados Marilyn Sealy at today’s launch of Silver Dollar For Children Drive.
Nevertheless, President Cyril Burke told Barbados TODAY following the launch of this year’s drive at the Ministry of Education this morning, that monies raised in other areas for the initiative, which supports various charities, have compensated for that loss.
Suggesting that the decline in corporate support may be a result of the current economic climate, Burke said supermarket drives and walks through Bridgetown asking for donations, have been successful.
“Members have to go out at different supermarkets and solicit funds from the public and that has helped us a lot. But we still find that Barbadians are giving and they do especially when we tell them this is for the kids,” Burke said.
“They are still philanthropic at heart and they tend to do the best that they can. I have personal experiences when a lady said I only have so much, let me come back and they come back to you. Which is something very commendable of the Barbadian public.”
The grand Silver Dollar Drive, now in its 10th year, will be held on October 31 in Heroes Square and Independence Square, The City, where Barbadians are asked to go and donate their dollars to the worthy cause.
On October 23, the drive will hold its schools collection and that will be followed by the church collection on the 25th.
At the launch, Minister of Education, Ronald Jones, said his ministry endorsed the drive which he commended for helping charities.
He encouraged the 60 000 students registered in public and private schools across the island to donate to the drive on October 23.
“It is also a lesson in learning, to share, to give and care. And we want our children with those particular attributes and those virtues. I know for several a dollar might be a little challenging, but whatever you have, you can make this contribution,” Jones said.
Director of Communications with Flow Barbados, Marilyn Sealy, said the telecommunications company was pleased to partner with the Kiwanis Club to ensure that the event continues to build on its great legacy of reaching out to help children.
Sealy said Flow was further inspired when they learnt that some of the funds collected this year will be distributed to the children of Dominica following the recent dislocation caused by the Tropical Storm Erika.
“I am also pleased to announce that FLOW Barbados will shortly start an internal Silver Dollars for Children Drive, the proceeds of which the company will donate to the Kiwanis.
“In addition to promoting this initiative via our official media channels, we will also endeavor to have some of our entertainment ambassadors participate via the popular Celebrity Length of Dollars,” Sealy indicated.
Canon Noel Burke, representing the Barbados Christian Council, called on congregations at all churches in Barbados to make their donations.
Rory Hunte, chairman of the Silver Dollar drive, said this year there will be a red carpet at the drive on October 31 when Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, along with a number of other well-known personalities, is expected to join the public
in making their donations.
There will also be health checks at Heroes Square and Flow will be marketing its products.
“It is going to be a Saturday unlike last year. Town is going to be abuzz (with) activities and we hope to get some good donations so we can continue to assist the children of Barbados through the various charities,” Hunte explained.