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Palmyra rolls out red carpet for charity

Published:Sunday | March 31, 2013 | 12:00 AM
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Cathy Dear (left) on her iPad bidding on an Italian dream vacation during the Palmyra Foundation's annual charity auction. She has the attention of the foundation's Ragni Trotta.
Monique Mitchell (left) and Guanita Diaz fully engrossed in the process.
Chris Whitfield (left) and Prem Mahtani opted for their smartphones to bid during the Palmyra Foundation online charity auction at the Blue Beat Lounge Hip Strip venue in Montego Bay last Saturday night.
Sherron Cunningham and Douglas Gordon in a jovial mood.
From left: Palmyra Foundation's Frank Perolli, Idler's Rest, Philip Farmer, Delta Airline's Richard Pile, and attorney-at-law Tiffany Hamilton.-Photos by janet Silvera
Iberostar's Luis Velez and Tamika Higgins Baker cosy up for our lens.
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Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:Usain Bolt's training Pumas and a 2012 London Olympics mascot, signed by the world record holder, were among the hot items competed for at The Palmyra Foundation's red-carpet charity auction last Saturday night.

In fact, all eyes were transfixed on large projector screens strategically placed within the Blue Beat lounge, while fingers tapped away on smartphones, iPads and laptops, raking in nearly US$50,000 (more than J$4.6 million ) for the charity's Book4Kids Jamaica programme.

Bolt wasn't the only contributor to this exciting event, part of which was carried live by CVM Television. Several luxury vacations, flights and even cruises were up for grabs as bidders picked up amazing deals on more than 160 items online, supporting the cause.

This year, the organisers added some more exciting elements, including a performance by the very entertaining NoMaddz Bongo, and a live auction by luxury auctioneer Geoffrey Fullerton. The evening also got a boost by the presence of American celebrity actor and comedian Anthony Anderson and the CVM broadcast with hosts Montego Bay's own Paul Kerr-Jarrett and the station's new CEO Andrew McGlone.

Those who opted not to bid donated to particular schools. But one thing is certain, come September, the team of Ragni and Robert Trotta, Frank Perolli, Heidi Zech, Caryll Mullings-McDonald and their friends will hand over textbooks to 10,000 infant school students for the 2014 school year.

Held under the slogan 'The future is bright, when you can read and write!' since it began in 2007, more than 100 international volunteers have helped provide more than 100,000 books to 25,000 children in more than 125 schools across Jamaica's 14 parishes.

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com