Flow gives $1m to CUMI fund-raiser
Published:Friday | August 20, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Christopher Thomas, Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Broadband company Flow has pledged $1 million to the Committee for the Upliftment of the Mentally Ill (CUMI) for the second staging of the annual 'CUMI Come Run' fund-raiser on October 2.
The fund-raising initiative will take the form of a 10K run and 5K walk on the grounds of the Tryall Golf Course Club in Hanover.
Denise Williams, Flow's public relations manager, described her company's donation as an investment in Montego Bay, St James.
"We are here in Montego Bay as your partners. We are committed to the social and economic develop-ment of Montego Bay and we look forward to making this year's event a resounding success," she said during the press launch at Secrets Resort and Spa in Montego Bay on Wednesday.
She also noted that Flow plans to complete its US$30 million (approximately J$2.6 billion) broadband infrastructure in Montego Bay by the end of 2010, while J$30 million will be invested on social investment in the Second City.
Excited
"We're very excited about becoming a part of the community here in Montego Bay and we're looking forward to partnering with many of you in this room in joint ventures to continue to invest in Montego Bay and its environs," she declared.
CUMI is a non-profit organi-sation that was established in 1991 to provide community outreach and rehabilitation for Montego Bay's homeless and mentally challenged population. One of the organisation's ongoing projects is a day centre in Brandon Hill, where the city's homeless are fed and receive shelter.
Joy Crooks, nurse administrator for CUMI, announced that the group's goal is to raise at least $3 million to increase CUMI's trust fund interest to meet their monthly expenses and further their day centre programme.
"The trust fund that we have invested in provides CUMI one-third of what we need presently to run the CUMI Day Centre and provide the services of rehabili-tation," remarked Crooks.
"(This year) will provide further maintenance to the trust fund, so that we can continue rehabilitation services from the day service for the mentally ill and for the homeless street people. Our goal is to build the trust fund to ensure sustainability of the services that CUMI provides to the community through the CUMI Day Centre."