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Scotiabank Supports The Edward C. Gartland Youth Centre

Monday, November 26, 2008 - The Turks & Caicos AIDS Awareness Foundation (TCAAF) in conjunction with the Youth Foundation is proud to announce that another corporate citizen has stepped forward to generously support the Edward C. Gartland Youth Centre. Scotiabank has provided a check in the amount of $10,221.35 to furnish a main room in the center as part of its Bright Future Program and has pledged an additional financial contribution of up to $5,000 from a new service the Bank is launching.

Scotiabank has a new corporate giving program designed to enable the bank to make a real impact on the well-being of children in the communities Scotiabank operates, said Steve Saunders, Commercial Account Manager of Scotiabank in Turks and Caicos who was one of the representatives of the bank that presented the check to Meghan OReilly, the Director of the Edward C. Gartland Youth Center. Supporting our children  especially in the areas of education, health and wellness  is one of the most important things we can do to ensure our community thrives and flourishes. When we found out about the Edward C. Gartland Youth Centre we knew this would be the best place for us to channel our funds to have the most impact. We are very impressed by what has been built, the goals and vision of the center and are very proud to support such a worthy and noble project.

The Scotiabank Bright Future program ensures that a large portion of the banks sponsorship activities goes towards initiatives that directly benefit children. In addition to the one-time donation, Scotiabank is looking to make a further donation of approximately $5,000  this money will be generated from the launching of the Visa Debit Cards. The new Scotiabank VISA Debit Cards will replace ATM cards and the bank will collect $1.00 per card issued. The First $5000 collected will go directly towards the Edward C. Gartland Youth Centre to help fund operating costs and on-going programs.

Needless to say we are ecstatic about this news and the contribution Scotiabank is making to the centre, said Meghan OReilly. We cannot run this Centre without the support and contribution of the business and private sectors. Our goals are intentionally set very high  we aim to reach 25% of the youth in Providenciales that are between the ages of 13-24. This is approximately 375 children that we want to come to the centre, use our services and benefit from our programs. Scotiabank and the other corporations that have made donations to us are helping us reach this goal and  more importantly  helping to positively impact the lives of our future generation. The Edward C. Gartland Youth Centre The Edward C Gartland Youth Centre is located in the downtown area of Providenciales. The mission of the Edward C. Gartland Youth Centre is to:

• Over an informal luncheon debrief with the Create a safe and inspiring environment where teens can broaden their awareness and understanding of global and social issues and develop life skills;
  
  
• Engage the community in making a positive impact on the youth and Provide equal opportunity for all young people regardless of heritage, religion or ethnic background
  
  
• Provide equal opportunity for all young people regardless of heritage, religion or ethnic background

The Centre officially opened to the general public on Friday, November 7, 2008 but has been operating in a streamlined mode since August. Since its opening, the centre has attracted eager and curious youth, some of which form the Youth Advisory Board that guides the programs and activities of the Centre. Members of Rapport and Rotaract use the centre for meetings and programs; the Centre served as a safe haven for kids displaced from Hurricanes Ike and Hanna. Early activities organized from the Centre before its official opening included beach cleanups in Blue Hills and the Bight, art and dance classes, poetry reading and writing workshops and peer education training.

About the TCAAF

The TCAAF is an independent, non-profit organization formed in 2003 to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS in the Turks and Caicos Islands and its rippling, negative affects on the community though increased education and awareness. The TCAAF dedicates its time to fundraising efforts to implement informative and fun programs that engage young people and dispel myths about HIV/AIDS. The flagship project of the TCAAF is currently the Edward C. Gartland Youth Centre, but the organization also hosts a monthly TV show called Making a Difference that airs the last Tuesday of every month at 7:30 pm on Channel 4. Individual memberships are $100, corporate memberships are $500, please call 331-9602 for details.

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