JHF shows appreciation to stalwarts

The University of Technology (UTech), which has greatly assisted with well needed funds, has teamed up with the Jamaica Hockey Federation (JHF) to organise their fundraising dinner and award ceremony.

The dinner is to raise funds for the Under-21 male and female teams which are in preparation for the Junior Pan Am Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, from September 10-23. The event will be held at the Sir Alfred Sangster Auditorium tomorrow, starting from 5:30 p.m.

The budget to send the teams to the championships is $6m.

Through the support of the Sports Development Foundation (SDF), the full cost of airfares has been underwritten and Jamaica National has pledged $1m, leaving the JHF the task of raising the additional $2.5m to make the participation for the youngsters a reality.

"The teams have been in training since January 2012 and we have been working very hard and have undertaken numerous fundraising activities to date. Fundraising events held to date were a fish fry in March, raffle of a computer donated by Net Soft Management Services and we are now organising the JHF/UTech dinner and awards ceremony," said JHF president Leon Mitchell.

"The teams have also been doing their part in trying to raise funds as they have organised and executed over five fundraisers."

grateful to Gyles

Mitchell added: "UTech has always been supportive of sports in Jamaica and we are very grateful to Dr Colin Gyles, who was very responsive to our request for assistance, as this sponsorship will not only help us to raise the additional funds needed, but also gives us the ability to show our appreciation to the many individuals and organisations that have helped to improve the sport of field hockey, as well as its awareness in Jamaica."

In this Jamaica's 50th year of Independence, the JHF will be honoring the following persons and organisations:

Michael Fennel OJ, CD - Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA); Neville McCook (JOA); Katherine "Kay" Wilson - JHF; Carol Cuffley - JHF; Valerie Hall - JHF; Norris Davis - JHF; Donald James - JHF; Myrna Brown - JHF; the late Marguerite Cooke - JHF; the late Tony Burrowes - JHF; Kingston Commissioners Club; Derrick Lyseight - Art & Fabric; Lloyd Beckford - CVM TV; Paul Burrowes - The Jamaica Observer; Courtney Sergeant - formerly RJR Group; Stratton Palmer - KLAS FM; Audley Boyd - The Gleaner Company; Dr Colin Gyles - UTech; Sports Development Foundation; Jamaica Intercollegiate Sports Association; Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association.

Persons who would like to be part of this historic Jamaica 50 event in support of our teams please feel free to call the JHF at 978-0425 or 371-4339 for tickets.