Caribbean Optimists make financial contribution to Annotto Bay Hospital

Tuesday May 28, 2013 was an exciting day for me personally as I am sure it was also for Zone 4 Lieutenant Governor Andrea Samuels who accompanied me to the Annotto Bay Hospital to finally hand over the money raised from our fundraising concert staged by the University Singers in June 2012.
Members of Optimist International Caribbean District Zone 4 can be proud of their contribution of sixty thousand JA dollars which will go towards helping the hospital in their provision of quality health care to the children it serves.
The hospital, located in the north eastern parish of St Mary, Jamaica, was severely damaged by hurricane Sandy in September 2012 but is on its way to full recovery; thanks to the effort of many public and private enterprises including the Ministry of Health and the RJR Communications Group.
We as Optimists in Zone 4 have been building a steady relationship with the hospital administration since early 2012. Activities by the Optimists include the Zone 4 Labour Day project of 2012 (http://7804optimist.blogspot.com/2012/05/zone-4-labour-day-2012-pictorial.html) which saw Optimist cleaning up the compound and painting the conference room which now provides temporary accommodation for the administrative staff while the refurbishing from hurricane Sandy takes place.
The Optimist Club of Castleton Gardens has also been visiting with the children and staff of the hospital and have contributed valuable supplies.
I take this opportunity to thank all members of the zone along with the many individuals and private sector companies who made it possible for us to make this contribution as we seek to make a difference one child at a time.

Participating in the handing over exercise at the hospital were:
Chief Executive Officer, Ms Arlene Mighty
Hospital administrator, Ms Pauline Meek
Sisters Claudia Hardy and Tracey Reynolds Director and Deputy Director of Nursing Services, respectively
Optimist International Caribbean District Zone 4 Lieutenant Governor, Andrea Samuels and Past Lieutenant Governor, Patrick Prendergast.
Optimist International is one of the world's largest voluntary service club organisations with over 75,000 adult members in more than 2600 clubs across the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean. Carrying the motto "Bringing Out the Best in Kids", Optimists reach over six million children and young people annually through their positive service projects.
The Caribbean District currently has just over 60 clubs spread across Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Cayman Islands, Jamaica and St Lucia and has built a reputation of doing extremely valuable projects in childhood cancer, HIV&AIDS, and supporting schools and various youth-based activities through its Oratorical and Essay competitions, Communication Contest for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing, as well golf competitions.

(L-R) Administrator Pauline Meek, CEO Arlene Might, LtG Andrea Samuels, Sister Tracey Reynolds, and Sister Claudia Hardy