Books Are Fun!

Filed Under: Nassau Sunrise Rotary Reading Fair
Wednesday March 19^th, 2008

TimeWorks Sponsors Children to Attend Rotary Sunrise’s Annual Reading Fair

When the Rotary Club of Nassau Sunrise presented its Second Annual Reading Fair recently, TimeWorks was there to lend a hand — and have a great time.

The volunteer arm of Lyford Cay Foundation, Inc. arranged for 20 residents of the Children’s Emergency Hostel to attend the event, which promotes literacy at every level.

More than a dozen helpers read to the children, aged 5 to 12, from books provided by TimeWorks Committee member Nancy McDonald, founder of ReadBahamas.org, a programme that donates high quality children’s books to needy schools across the country.

The volunteers also chaperoned the children as they moved across The College of The Bahamas grounds to take part in the many enjoyable activities available on the day — including a bouncing castle, face painting, and a man who made fun shapes out of balloons.

“It was a wonderful event which fit right into our mission of ‘matching people with projects that will warm their hearts,’ and of assisting children in particular,” said TimeWorks Committee member Suzy Robinson. “We were also very pleased to see so many of our Lyford Cay scholars participating as TimeWorks volunteers.”

Ms. Robinson added that the Lyford Cay Foundation would be covering the cost of purchasing 100 copies of ‘The Cay,’ by Theodore Taylor, which is the subject of a book report contest organized by Rotary Sunrise for students in grades five and six at participating schools.

“We would like to especially thank our members, sponsors, and TimeWorks for absolutely giving us 110 percent support, and the Lyford Cay Foundation for making a donation to us as well,” said Effie Burrows, President of Rotary’s Club of Nassau Sunrise.

Majestic Tours transported the youngsters from the Children’s Emergency Hostel to the event and back, free of charge. TimeWorks sponsors Pictet Bank & Trust, RBC Royal Bank of Canada and Templeton Global Advisors lent financial assistance as well as some of the manpower.

Next on TimeWorks’ agenda is helping out with the Ride for Hope, an annual fund-raising cycling event to benefit the Cancer Society of The Bahamas, scheduled to take place in North Eleuthera on April 5. The Lyford Cay Foundation is one of the founding sponsors of the Ride.

Established in 2004 on the principle that the time and skills of people can be as valuable as their money, TimeWorks serves the Bahamian community by mobilizing a diverse group of individuals in volunteerism and civic engagement. To date, it has provided more than 3,000 ‘man’ hours to 17 local non-profit organizations.

Photos by Donald Knowles.