Our Lucaya gives back to the children on Grand Bahama

 The Crescent Pool is going to make a gorgeous back drop for our event and the food and beverage department has pulled out all the stops for us too – calling it impressive is an understatement!' (Photo courtesy of Our Lucaya)

FREEPORT, Grand Bahama -- Slated to be the biggest event of the fall calendar, the 30th Anniversary celebrations for the Grand Bahama Children’s Home is an annual fundraiser for abandoned and neglected children of the island.

Set for Friday, October the 15th, at the Crescent pool of Our Lucaya, the fundraiser will also be a celebration of the Children’s Home’s 30 years of service to the children of Bahamas. “I can still remember the first Children’s Home,” said Shelia Smith, Executive Committee Member. “We used drawers for cribs for the babies, because of lack of space – we’ve come a long way to where we are now thanks to the community.”

It is this same community that is being asked to support the Home again as raising over 2,000 children during its time has been an ongoing challenge. “We’ve had our good and bad times,” noted Smith “but somehow we’ve managed to keep our doors open and take care of so many. Each penny raised truly makes a difference for us.”

This year, the committee is thrilled to having the special 30th Anniversary celebration at Our Lucaya. “We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of the Our Lucaya Team and their new General Manger, Michael Weber,” noted Barbara Stollery, Fundraising Committee Member. “The Crescent Pool is going to make a gorgeous back drop for our event and the food and beverage department has pulled out all the stops for us too – calling it impressive is an understatement!”

The fundraising committee has been working with Carmel Churchill Resort Group Sales Manager, Executive Chef, Dwaine Clare and the Conventions team: Laurel Bartlett and Kevin Clarke. “We’ve found the staff extremely helpful and very cooperative,” added Stollery. “This has opened a wonderful new door for Our Lucaya and its partnership with the Grand Bahama community and our Home.”

Set at the far east of the property, the night will commence with a welcome glass of wine and delicious hors d'œuvres throughout the evening. In addition to this, the committee has been working with Gloria McGlone and the Freeport Player’s Guild who will be showcasing various numbers from their acclaimed show ‘Ain't Misbehavin'.’

Pictured are four of the talented cast performing earlier this year at the Regency Theatre. Tickets for the event are now on sale at Barefoot Marketing, GBPA, Chamber of Commerce, Le Rendezvous and the Seventeen Shop. (Photo: Erik J. Russell / Keen i Media Ltd)

“We are planning just a few numbers for the night, an elegant jewelry showing and a wonderful surprise presentation too,” added Geneva Rutherford, Executive Committee Member and Co-Emcee for the evening. “We are also thrilled that the Minister of State for Social Services, Loretta Turner Butler will be in attendance as well as our Patron for the night, Lady Joan Foulkes,” she added.

Tickets for the event have been selling well with tremendous corporate support also coming in from: Focol, Bradford Marine, Polymers, First Caribbean, RBC, GB Shipyard, Pharmachem, Vopak and two of their annual supporters GB Devco and Millie’s Car Rental. Tickets are $75 in advance, $80 at the door, and can be purchased at The Seventeen Shop, Barefoot Marketing, the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce, The Grand Bahama Port Authority, and Le Rendezvous Restaurant in the International Bazaar.

“We are looking forward to a wonderful night and are asking for the community’s support,” said Rutherford. “As they say it takes a village to raise a child and these children above all need our help and love. We want everyone to know each penny raised reaches our Home – and the funds are needed on this 30th Anniversary more than ever.”

Sky Bahamas continuing to help our children

Photo: Sky Bahamas' Peter Turnquest presents a cheque to Jean Hivert, Grand Bahama Children's Home Executive Treasurer. (Barefoot Marketing photo)

FREEPORT, Grand Bahama -- Thanks to Sky Bahamas the Grand Bahama Children's Home is having a better May this year. "Sky Bahamas' donation today helps us make May a better month," said Jean Hivert, Grand Bahama Children's Home Executive Treasurer. "We, like any home, have many financial burdens and donations from corporate citizens like Sky Bahamas make us breath a little easier each month and allow us some extras for the children."


For more information about the Grand Bahama Children's Home interested persons can log on to www.gbchildrenshome.com or call 352-7852 to find out their daily needs, all donations are welcome.

Rotary Lucaya and Guardian Fencing Help Secure The Children's Home Premises

Freeport, Grand Bahama – Thanks to the efforts of Rotary Lucaya the Grand Bahama Children’s Home is a little safer this year. Recently the home had been plagued with trespassers and the Children’s Home management was concerned about strangers entering the peaceful shelter for abused, abandoned and neglected children.

“We were rather desperate for more security” said Jean Hivert, GBCH Executive Board Treasurer, “we are so very grateful to Rotary and Guardian Fencing for helping us secure our premises and making us feel safe again.” The home is now completely fenced in, with Guardian Fencing putting up fencing and movable gates in the front of the home.


“These children are our future, we need to keep them secure like all our own children,” noted President of Rotary Lucaya, Ja-Ronn Jones. ”Thanks to corporate donations within our club we were able to assist the home and Guardian Fencing was quick to install the much needed security.”

The home which is located in Tripp Lane known as the “Back of Town” houses anywhere from 18 to 25 children in 4 separate premises. “We want our children to feel safe here,” noted Sarah Kirkby, GBCH Executive Board, “they deserve the same freedom to ride their bikes, play with a ball and just be outside like any other child. Thanks to Rotary and Richard Bates they are now!”

Persons interested in helping the home can contact 352-6076 or email them via their website www.gbchildrenshome.com. The home is always in need to volunteers and donations to meet their daily needs.

Full House for Bahamian Film RAIN

By Keen i Media Ltd

Grand Bahama Children’s Home executive committee members Carron Smith (far left) and Sarah Kirkby (far right) pose with organiser Daphne Ormerod (second from left), ‘RAIN’ producer, writer and director Maria Govan (centre), and the actor in the title role, newcomer Renel Brown (second from right). (Photo: Brent Bethel / Keen i Media Ltd)

‘RAIN’ producer, writer and director Maria Govan (right) responds to questions from the audience, (Photo: Brent Bethel / Keen i Media Ltd)

FREEPORT, GRAND BAHAMA, OCTOBER 25, 2009 – Hundreds turned out to Regency Theatre in Freeport Friday evening to the gala showing of the Bahamian film ‘RAIN’, an event organised to raise much-needed funds for Grand Bahama Children’s Home.

The crowd was treated to ‘RAIN’, the compelling drama on film written, produced and directed by Bahamian filmmaker Maria Govan, who was present for the event. The audience cheered as the film’s credits rolled, thrilled to see such a high quality film created in the Bahamas.

The actor in the title role, Renel Brown, also made a special guest appearance at the theatre. Director Govan and actor Brown took questions from the audience following the film and then joined the crowds in the theatre’s newly-renovated lobby for photographs and to enjoy fine wine, chocolates and hors d’oeuvres. One of the first indigenous feature films to come out of the Bahamas, ‘RAIN’ steers away from the simplistic perception of a postcard paradise, instead going “over the hill” in the Bahamas’ capital city, Nassau, and into the challenged life of a young local girl determined to get to know the mother who abandoned her as a young child.

L-R: Renee Brown, mother of Renel Brown; Renel Brown, the actor in the title role of 'RAIN'; writer, producer and director of 'RAIN' Maria Govan; event organiser Daphne Ormerod; enthusiastic supporter Maitland Cates; and mother of Maria Govan, Irene Govan. (Photo: Brent Bethel / Keen i Media Ltd)

Renel Brown, the actor who made her acting debut in the title role of the Bahamian film 'RAIN' poses with Bahamian fellow-actor and employee at the Grand Bahama Children's Home.

The audience was moved by the gripping story and gritty realism of the production. Many of those in attendance spoke of the high production values and depth of the storyline. Of particular note was the excellent portrayal given by Renel Brown in her first film role. More than six thousand dollars were raised to support the Grand Bahama Children’s Home, which provides a safe and compassionate refuge for dozens of local children in need.

The audience attending the showing of the Bahamian film 'RAIN' were thrilled with the story, performances and quality of the production. Many of those shared their views with the Keen i Media production who was on hand shooting a news story for Grand Bahama TV (www.GrandBahamaTV.com). Keen i Media handled all marketing, public relations and technical production for the event. Shown here: Erik RUssell, president of Keen i Media, interviews S.L. Sheppard (centre), Bahamian director and playwright (whose play, 'Trapped in Marriage' recently ran at Regency Theatre), and Rico Thompson (right), camera operator and production coordinator at Keen i Media. (Photo: Brent Bethel / Keen i Media Ltd)

In addition to the support of those in attendance, the event was sponsored by many local businesses, including: FOCOL, Grand Bahama Port Authority, Grand Bahama Power Co, Kelly's Home Centre, Star General Insurance, ColinaImperial Insurance, Mechanical Engineering Ltd, Waugh Construction, Pisces Seafood Restaurant, Neptune's Cocktail Lounge, Dolly Madison Home Centre, Paint Fair, SMITTY'S of George Town Exuma, Keen i Media Ltd, Barefoot Marketing, Grand Bahama TV, Grand Bahama Info, Seventeen Shop, Island Java, Zorba’s Greek Restaurant, Wide World Travel, La Belle Beauty Salon, Cool 96FM and Love 97FM.


Learn more about ‘RAIN’
Learn more about Grand Bahama Children’s Home
Learn more about Regency Theatre