Tag: football

Digicel Foundation Scores Big for Grassroots Football, Awards $650,000 to Total Football Academy

Players from Total Football Academy celebrate with a symbolic $650,000 cheque presented by Digicel Foundation, after the Academy’s winning entry in the Foundation’s “Show Your Skills and Score” social media challenge earned it the
grant to support its football programme.

Total Football Academy (TFA) has been awarded a $650,000 grant from Digicel Foundation, giving the grassroots programme a significant boost as it continues developing young talent.
The Academy won the Foundation’s “Show Your Skills and Score” social media
challenge, which invited school football teams, community clubs, and academies to post
a video showcasing their team’s skills for a chance to win a grant. Total Football
Academy emerged victorious, securing over 1,000 organic likes on Instagram.
Charmaine Daniels, CEO of Digicel Foundation, said the timing of the contest was
deliberate, designed to ride the wave of excitement generated by the World Cup
tournament.

“Football has a unique way of uniting people and the whole world was
watching the World Cup with such passion. We wanted to channel that same energy
back into our own communities, where the next generation of footballers is being
shaped every day. A lot of young players look up to these World Cup athletes, and they
dream of one day representing their own countries on that same stage,” she said.
Daniels added that the grant reflects the Foundation’s long-standing commitment to
sport as a tool for social development. ‘Throughout the years, we have consistently
supported grassroots programmes because we’ve seen firsthand what it does for young
people. It teaches discipline, teamwork and resilience. It keeps children engaged and
out of harm’s way. Most importantly, it brings communities together.”


Founder and Director of TFA, Raymond Leveridge, said the grant comes at a pivotal
moment for the Academy’s growth. ‘We are incredibly grateful to Digicel Foundation for
this opportunity and for believing in what we’re building here. This grant will help us
provide proper gear for our players, cover training expenses and support critical areas
like nutrition and hydration that are often overlooked but so important to a young
athlete’s development. We’ll also be able to purchase much-needed equipment that will
elevate the quality of training we can offer,” he said.

Leveridge also spoke to the Academy’s mission and the communities it serves. “We are
an academy with a very diverse demographic. A large number of our players come from
inner-city communities and less fortunate backgrounds, where access to structured,
quality football programmes isn’t always guaranteed. For many of these young people,
TFA is a safe space, a and a support system.

This grant allows us to remove some of the barriers that stand between our players and their potential and that means everything to us,” he said. Digicel Foundation offers two grant programmes: the Mek A Muckle grant, which provides up to $650,000 in funding for small projects and the Build Jamaica grant, which supports larger programmes with up to $2,000,000 in funding. To learn more about Digicel Foundation grants, visit www.digicelfoundation.org/jm/en.

Farewell, Dr Velma Pollard

Velma Pollard

We can never forget Dr Velma Pollard’s spirited dance to the live mento band at a CCRP outing to Milk River Hotel & Mineral Spa. Her joie-de-vivre, reflected in her warm smile, would charm her fellow members at various outings. The celebrated writer, who passed away at 87 on February 1, never rested on her laurels and was a mentor to many.

“Rest peacefully, Velma Pollard,” wrote the Observer’s Bookends coordinator Sharon Leach. “I will always remember your kindness, your interest in my writing, and your encouragement… and more than anything else, your relentless support of the Sunday Observer’s Bookends.”

In lauding Dr Pollard’s achievements, Culture Minister Olivia “Babsy” Grange remarked on her affirmation of Jamaican patois and her publications From Jamaican Creole to Standard English: A Handbook for Teachers and Dread Talk: The Language of Rastafari.

“Along with her sister, Dr Erna Brodber, also a critically acclaimed author, Pollard organised an annualEmancipation watchnight vigil in Woodside, where members of the community and the wider Jamaica could come and reflect on the significance of Emancipation,” noted Minister Grange.

Blogger Emma Lewis wrote a memorable tribute, ending with: “… her delightful, sometimes sharp humour, her warmth and her encouraging and sympathetic manner endeared her to many. She will be missed by Jamaicans of all ages, especially younger writers. Her passing leaves a gap in Jamaica’s cultural narrative, which she so effortlessly and warmly expressed.”

My deepest sympathy to Dr Pollard’s beloved family and friends. May her great soul rest in peace.

Source: Jamaica Observer

Let’s play ball

Pembroke Hall Primary football field transformed

Lee Henderson (left) and Anna Horndahl (centre), co-founders of the Kingstad Serendipity Fund, are seen with Miguel “Steppa” Williams, director of strategic planning and community development at Digicel Foundation, at the recent handover of a state-of-the-art football field at Pembroke Hall Primary School.

Pembroke Hall Primary in St Andrew has unveiled its upgraded football field, a US$100,000-project that has transformed the school’s outdoor space into a safe and functional environment for students.

The initiative was made possible through a collaboration between the Kingstad Serendipity Fund and Digicel Foundation — which contributed a US$20,000 grant as part of its 20-for-20-for-20 Community Development programme.

The project involved the procurement and installation of 19,065 square feet of high-grade synthetic turf and related materials, providing a state-of-the-art facility for sports and physical education.

The field was dedicated to the memory of Estreana Rebecca Morrison, the grandmother of Lee Henderson, the Jamaican-raised US businessman and co-founder of the Kingstad Serendipity Fund.This project is deeply personal to me — it’s a way to give back to the school and community that were instrumental in shaping the person I’ve become,” said Henderson.“As a child, I played on this very field, which was made of dirt and uneven patches. It posed safety risks and became unusable during rainy periods,” added Henderson. The Kingstad Serendipity Fund plans to establish the Kingstad Football Club, giving young athletes a platform to develop their talents while learning life skills such as teamwork and discipline.“Every dollar generated by the football club and field will be reinvested into the school. These funds will support the team, provide upgrades in technology, and enhance the school’s infrastructure, ensuring Pembroke Hall remains a beacon of excellence for generations to come,” declared Henderson.

In the meantime, Charmaine Daniels, CEO of the Digicel Foundation, emphasised her organisation’s commitment to empowering communities through strategic partnerships.

“The Digicel Foundation is thrilled to support Pembroke Hall Primary in creating this modern football field. Sports play a vital role in youth development, teaching critical values like discipline, teamwork, and resilience.

“By partnering with the Kingstad Serendipity Fund, we’re ensuring students have a safe space to grow and to dream big,” said Daniels.

Source: Jamaica Observer