JMMB Group & Harbour View FC Champions Community Development
Harbour View Football Club (HVFC) and its sponsor, JMMB Group presented a community award to Happy Venture Basic School, valued at J$200,000, in honour of the club’s late stalwart, Monica Malcolm-McFarlane. The community award, which was received by the school’s principal, Latoya Rowe, will go towards the refurbishing of the school.
In her remarks, Kerry-Ann Stimpson, chief marketing officer at JMMB Group, noted the company’s sponsorship of the Jamaica Premier League is an investment in nation-building and community development. “JMMB believes there is greatness in every single one of us, (and we are happy for the opportunity) to use this as a vehicle of empowerment…by joining hands and hearts with every member of the Harbor View Football Club to present a community award to Happy Venture Basic School.” The award holds special significance, as the late club stalwart was the former principal for the school and played an integral role in the East Kingston club's Under-13 FirstKick programme.
In expressing her gratitude as the recipient of the Community award, Rowe shared, “It is such a great honour that we (Happy Ventures) have been chosen by the HVFC team and JMMB Group (for this award). The refurbishing project was one of Mrs. McFarlane’s dreams and I look forward to bringing some of these dreams to fruition and building on the foundation she laid.” The upliftment of the school will improve the image of the school and enhance the teaching-learning environment, which I hope will attract more students to the school, especially in the new school year (as we anticipate reopening of face-to-face classes).
Clyde Jureidini, general manager of HVFC said, “Youth, family and community have been the basis of our club, over the last 47 years of our existence. It is a good foundation that we hope to build on (even further) with JMMB.” In further championing the cause of youth and community development, it was, therefore, apt that the two organizations collaborated to build on the foundation laid by Malcolm –McFarlane, investing in youth through sports and education.
The club remains resolute in its policy to expose some of its young talents to top-flight football while broadening the squad base. This has been demonstrated by its team composition for the 2021 Premier League season, with players from the club’s U-17 programmes making their debut on the field, in the form of Tarick Ximines and Tyrese Williams.
Stimpson, who reiterated the value of building the community, noted, “We are here for more than the game, we are here for the community.”
In addition to the community award given to Happy Ventures Basic School, in honour of Malcolm-McFarlane, the club presented its first recipient of the Monica Malcolm-McFarlane scholarship, to U13 player, Zaire Douse, who will be heading to high school in September. JMMB Joan Duncan Foundation also presented Douse with a tablet. The scholarship, valued at J$55,000, was sponsored by Complete Sourcing, a friend of HVFC.
Holistic Development
As part of the partnership with the Harbour View Football Club, JMMB Group is seeking to fill the role as “financial coach” to the players and its club management, by offering personal financial management education to empower them to better manage their finances and future earnings, ensuring they score their goals on and off-field.
At the end of the formalities, Harbour View presented JMMB Group with a framed jersey along with a ‘thank you’ note, signed by all the players, as a token of their appreciation.
The Meet the Press event took place at the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) office in New Kingston. This event is a part of a series that is designed to give sponsors and the teams an opportunity to meet and engage with the media.
After the first 3 rounds of the scheduled 10 preliminary rounds in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) truncated 2021 season, HVFC is in second place with 5 points and undefeated. Twenty-year-old striker, Oquassa Chong is the leading goal scorer, with three (3) goals from three (3) games and was voted, The 'Star Balla' Award, for the just concluded Round 3 Games. Captain and Reggae Boyz defender, Ajeanie Talbott was also named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the Round 2 Game against Cavalier FC.
The club has an enviable star-studded record, which includes former Reggae Boyz, Ricardo ‘Bibi’ Gardner, the late Luton Shelton and Khadija Shaw, leading goal scorer with 42 goals; with signs of young stars in the making.