The Sandals Foundation and Hasbro have come together once again this holiday season for their annual toy distribution, making the most wonderful time of the year even brighter for 16,000 children across the Caribbean.
Since 2011, the Sandals Foundation has partnered with United States-based toy company, Hasbro, to mobilise team member volunteers to spread the joy, going into schools and local communities with toys and games to kick off the holiday season.
“The holiday season is a time for giving and sharing, and even more a time to inspire hope. We are incredibly grateful to be able to partner with Hasbro to bring joy to children in a way that lets them know they are being thought of,” said Patrice Gilpin, Public Relations Manager at Sandals Foundation.
On Wednesday, 11 December 2024, the magic of the season came alive in the parish of St John as Sandals Grenada Resort team members served over 280 children for a day filled with games, songs, food, and play.
“We selected the Concord Government School and St Peter’s RC School (also in St John), in honour of a former team member, Jean Henry Browne, who passed away this year. She was an exemplary Cook and a very active community woman and Sandals Foundation volunteer. In fact, one of her project proposals many years ago was to build a drain at the front of the Concord Government School, and it still stands today serving its purpose,” shared Deleon Forrester, Public Relations Manager at Sandals Grenada Resort.
A resident of the nearby Cotton Bailey, and daughter of the late Mrs Browne, Racheal Henry is carrying on her mother’s traditions of outreach and joined in the distribution activities. “It was a pleasure to be a part of the Sandals Foundation Christmas gift distribution. It was indeed an enjoyable experience. It brought me immense joy to see the smiles on the children’s faces as they received their toys.”
The Sandals Foundation also extended its holiday toy distribution to various other schools and community groups including the School for Special Education (St George), Starts & Angels Early Childhood Development Centre, Grand Anse Child Development Centre, We Assist, The Community Library and the Grenada Child Protection Authority.
Lenise Paul, Director of the Child Protection Authority, extended her gratitude: “The Board of Directors, management and staff at the Child Protection Authority, express profound gratitude to the Sandals Foundation for their generosity in providing Christmas gifts for our children in care. There is no doubt that these gifts will bring great joy and lift the spirits of our children during this Christmas season and beyond.”
The annual Holiday Toy Distribution has become a tradition for children in Jamaica, St Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands, Grenada, Barbados, and Curacao and now expands to its newest home, St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Sandals Foundation
