Christmas in the Park a festive affair

Hundreds of patrons gathered at Emancipation Park last week Thursday to immerse themselves into the joyful atmosphere of Scotiabank’s annual Christmas in the Park celebrations.

The event, known for its family-friendly activities and festive ambience, provided patrons with a memorable evening filled with music, entertainment, with winning performances from gospel sensation Kevin Downswell, The UWI Panoridim Steel Orchestra, The Ashe Company, Tessanne Chin’s Voice Box, among others.

The true essence of the event went beyond the joyous celebration. Scotiabank Foundation, as part of its ongoing commitment to support the community, made a donation of $3 million to the Salvation Army. The funds will specifically support their Christmas Kettle appeal and assist with the purchase of braille machines for students at the School for the Blind.

“Christmas really is about giving, so as much as we’re having fun at the concert we understand that there are many people who are less-fortunate and in need, and we always play our part by supporting very strong charities like the Salvation Army to help those who are less-fortunate in any way that we can,” said Yanique Forbes-Patrick, vice president, public affairs and communications at Scotia Group.

Representatives from the Salvation Army expressed their gratitude, emphasising the significant impact this donation will have on the lives of the students and their families.

Major Nana Agyemang, divisional commander for the Salvation Army eastern Jamaica, said the donation “is going to go a long way in impacting the lives of several persons in various communities in Jamaica”.

“We will also use a portion of the donation to initiate a programme in three communities to support students who are experiencing challenges by providing an after-school environment for students in various communities so that they will not be disadvantaged. I extend an invitation to corporate Jamaica and individuals to follow the example of Scotiabank and come onboard because whatever you donate will go a far way in helping persons,” Agyemang added.

Another highlight of the evening was the presence of the partners who were on location, offering complimentary snacks and goodies to all attendees. Their contributions added an extra layer of enjoyment to the festivities, ensuring that everyone experienced a sense of warmth and generosity throughout the event.

Among the partners for the 2023 staging of Scotiabank’s Christmas in the Park were Wisynco, Jablum, Grace Foods and CB Foods.