SOS Children's Village, the belle of the ball

Sadeke Brooks, Staff Reporter

Supporting a cause that is very dear to her heart, Michele Rollins, CEO of the Rose Hall Development Limited, will be hosting the Rose Hall Holiday Ball to aid the SOS Children's Village in Barrett Town, St James.

Rollins explained that helping the Village is something that her family has been doing for 35 years. She said the Village was started by Dr Harlard Hastings, Heinz W. Simonitsch and her husband, John Rollins, who donated the land to build the first house. A concert was also held to raise money for this first venture.

"It began with 10 children in a house, then it expanded," she said.

The SOS Children's Village Jamaica is a charitable organisation that provides a loving home for children in need of a family. There are two villages, one in Barrett Town, Montego Bay, and the other in Stony Hill. Combined, both house over 252 children between two months to 20 years old.

After years of giving aid to the Village, Rollins said many of the students have been successful in their fields of study.

"They have wonderful success stories and we want that to continue. We took it upon ourselves and decided that this would be our project," Rollins said, noting that a video will be shown at the ball featuring some of the young people who have been successful.

This year, all of the more than US$40,000 that Rollins is trying to raise from Rose Hall Holiday Ball 2010 will be going to the Village. In previous years, Rollins says the operation received donations from the Pineapple Ball, which also donated to many other organisations.

"The biggest reason we decided to give all the proceeds is that when you have someone like Gregory Wint, who will maximise these donations for the benefit of the students, it makes it very exciting to do that," Rollins told The Sunday Gleaner.

Wint, who is the national director of SOS Children's Villages, said he was overwhelmed by Rollins' consistent support of the organisation and wanted to publicly thank her.

He said the contribution from the ball would help to provide the children with things they need for their complete development by providing additional programmes like reading, academic support, music, computer and even psychological services.

Holistic development

"We are extremely excited about this partnership and we are deeply appreciative of it. Some of the successes is as a result of the support we have got from Mrs Rollins," Wint said.

"We are ensuring their holistic development so they can develop the skills that are needed to function independently in society. The funding is really to provide us with support so that all the children's need are met, whatever their personal needs are. Our aim is to prepare them to make that transition into independent living."

At the event, which will be held at Iberostar Suites Resort and Spa, Rose Hall, St James, on December 4, there will be performances by Ashley Martin, who will be working with the Bare Essential Band.

During cocktails, there will be performances by Paul Hurlock and the SOS Children's Village Choir. Tickets cost US$150, and cocktails and a silent auction will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Already, Rollins said they have been selling tickets for the event and she hopes the event will be well supported.

"I think we have sold about half the capacity. There is always the push at the end," she told The Sunday Gleaner.