Cloud 9 Leaving a Positive Legacy Program
It’s such a privilege to be able to attend great events like Caribbean Holidaze. At the same time, it’s important to remember that we are fortunate enough to be in a position to give back to the communities that make these great events possible.
Cloud 9’s Leaving a Positive Legacy Program hopes to do just that. I sat down with Ann Kenworthy, Cloud 9’s Positive Legacy coordinator, and Julie Van Amerongen to get a better understanding of how the program helps events like Caribbean Holidaze and Jam Cruise to give back.
Establishing a non-profit organization is one important step Cloud 9 is taking to ensure its events will continue to help the host communities. On January 1, the Leaving a Positive Legacy Program will file as a 501(c)(3) organization. The mission of the non-profit arm will be to use the power of music to inspire fans to take action to minimize the environmental impact of events they attend and to make a positive impact on the communities visited.
The Positive Legacy Program at Caribbean Holidaze was made up of two parts - first, festival goers were asked to bring along some personal care items to donate to Windsor Girls Home in St. Ann’s Bay, Jamaica. Together, festival goers supplied 8 boxes of items that went directly to Windsor Girls Home.
Funded and operated by the Jamaican Government, Windsor is home to abused, orphaned, and homeless girls aged 12-18. The girls come from all over the island and most have no other place to go. While living at the school, they not only learn basic subjects like math and English, but they are also prepared for life after Windsor. The home has programs for cosmetology, dressmaking/sewing, computer skills, and home economics. Funding from the government is limited and donations such as ours help to make ends meet. Needs include books, school supplies, clothing and shoes, toiletries and personal hygiene items, games, radios and CD players, sewing supplies, used computers, and other supplies. In addition, the girls enjoy receiving make-up kits, purses, hair bows and barrettes, inexpensive jewelry, and other items.
In addition, the Positive Legacy Program staged a silent auction to raise money for a local community center. The money raised was able to purchase a high quality weed whacker so that the community center’s football (soccer) fields can be used at any time. While we might take something such as a cleared sports field for granted in the United States, having a means to clear a playing field is certainly not a given in many parts of the world.
When Jam Cruise sets sail, January 3-8, 2010, one of the stops will bring passengers to Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Through the Leaving a Positive Legacy Program, and funds raised in the silent auction, 100 passengers will disembark to provide the local community center with soccer equipment, school supplies, laptop computers, instruments for a marching band, and more.
