“VOLLEYBALL 1,000 PLUS” Fundraising Project Seeks To Raise EC$20,000 For Youth Development Programmes By Lawrence S. James THE Saint Lucia Volleyball Association (SLVA) have come up with an innovative and unique strategy aimed at raising funds for the organization. And it does not involve going to corporate sponsors, nor the holding of the common type barbeques or cake sales. Developing on the idea of a parent, “Volleyball 1,000 Plus”, as the initiative is branded, is targeting the family members, friends and fans of the players and, by extension, the sport. At the official launching of the plan, in the Conference Room of the Chamber of Commerce, on Wednesday, President of the SLVA Brian Louisy noted that despite the hard economic times and a decline in the quantum of sponsorship over the years his organization was “extremely fortunate” to attract sponsorship. He however concurred that private sector sponsorship was not the only avenue. “We feel that there is a strong role to be played by the players in generating fundraising activities, but also there is a strong role to be played the friends, families and fans in sponsoring the sport. And so in our drive to respond and to continue to progress we have come up with this initiative,” Louisy said. During the three month-long campaign, every player will be given a personalized sponsored sheet – which will include photo and credentials, with the objective of identifying at least 10 supporters from their families, friends and fans to contribute EC$20. “At the end of the period which is August 28, 2014, we will announce how much support this initiative has raised for the Association. The goal is to raise $20,000 by reaching 1,000 persons. If we go beyond this then the plus is there,” said Shane Roachford, SLVA’s General Secretary. Roachford added: “When we think of “Volleyball 1,000 Plus” I would like to think of many hands make light work and we need everyone to get involved to make our job and our fundraising effort easier so that we can push the athletes and give them the opportunities that they deserve,” said Roachford. Part of SLVA’s youth development programmes involves its international commitment in this year’s Continental Championships, as follows: • Women’s Under 18 Championship in Costa Rica, from June 22-30. Saint Lucia’s youth team qualified by becoming the ECVA youth female champions in April this year. • Junior Women Under 20 Continental, from July 6-14. • Under 21 Inter-Continental Men’s Championship in El Salvador, from July 27-August4. • ECVA Senior Women’s Championship, from July 9-14; and Senior Men’s Championship, from August 27 to September 3. Saint Lucia will play host to those two events. In revealing those engagements, Roachford noted that the latter competitions were extremely important for Saint Lucia. “What it does is to gain qualification to next year’s senior Continental Championship. The men have made it on two occasions and we are looking to continue on a third occasion. The women made it for the first time last year and we are hoping for them to follow suit next year,” said a hopeful Roachford. Louisy said that the SLVA have constantly been pushing to get volleyball at a level where it becomes the sport of choice for young people, spectators and sponsors. “And we strive to achieve that through demonstrating the wonderful qualities of the sport we want to achieve; in addition to its excitement, the opportunities that arise and the strong benefits derived from playing the sport,” said Louisy. Louisy boasted that volleyball has developed a good reputation in terms of performance and the (good) discipline of athletes which allows for a strong and corporate alignment whereby companies could feel good about supporting and sponsoring the discipline. In photos below: TOP - General Secretary Shane Roachford (at left) and Brian Louisy (at right); BOTTOM - FLASHBACK: On May 11, 2013, Team Saint Lucia beat Belize in the 2014 North and Central America and Caribbean (NORCECA) World Championship Qualification Tournament – Round 2 Group J in Curacao.
Posted on: Fri, 30 May 2014 21:33:44 +0000
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