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Flow, Shaggy's Make A Difference Foundation continue drive

Published:Monday | January 16, 2012 | 12:00 AM
Shaggy (left) performing alongside Maxi Priest at the Shaggy and Friends concert on Saturday, January 7. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

The Bustamante Hospital for Children is set to receive even more support as a result of the joint efforts of the Shaggy Make a Difference Foundation and Flow.

The two groups are now finalising a special feature on the recently held concert and will offer this feature to Flow viewers on the OnDemand platform. All proceeds will go towards the foundation.

The Flow OnDemand service allows viewers to access movies, features, and other content for short periods through spot purchases. The facility provides another avenue for persons wishing to contribute to the initiative, whether or not they attended the January 7 staging of the show. Viewers will also be part of the enjoyable performances from reggae superstar Shaggy, Eve, Ms Lauryn Hill, Half Pint, Romain Virgo, among others, and will also get an opportunity to see exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of the concert.

Rebecca Packer, head of Shaggy's Make a Difference Foundation, is pleased with the move.

"We are extremely elated to have the support from top companies such as Flow. They really came on-board in a big way to support the cause," said Packer.

"Hearing that they will be raising additional funds for the foundation by making the concert available on Flow OnDemand demonstrates their level of commitment," she added.

Several benefits

Denise Williams, director of government and corporate affairs at Flow, believes the partnership with the Shaggy Make a Difference Foundation provides several benefits to the Bustamante Hospital for Children.

"We are heartened by the response from Jamaica to Shaggy's call on behalf of the hospital. We have pledged our continued support, leveraging the power of Flow's technology to bring attention to the needs of this important facility that serves the needs of Jamaican children. It's another method for persons to support the initiative resulting in residual benefits," she explained.

Williams noted that this latest move by Flow follows the broadband company powering the concert with its Internet, the fastest on the island. As such, the event was streamed live to an international audience, creating more awareness and more avenues for fund-raising for the cause.

The Shaggy Make A Difference Foundation donated approximately 70 pieces of equipment in 2009, and a further 350 pieces from the proceeds raised at the 2010 Shaggy and Friends Concert, totalling US$650,000 in value to the Bustamante Hospital for Children. Flow partnered with the event as the official Internet provider for the 2012 staging.