Viya To Donate Over $10,000 To Little League On Friday

ST. THOMAS — Continuing the trend of supporting a variety of local organizations, Viya — formerly Innovative and Choice — will donate $10,400 to the USVI Little League at the Emile Griffith Park this afternoon, according to Viya Vice President of Public Relations, Jennifer Matarangas-King.

“From last October until the end of May, any customer who came in to buy our internet product, $2 from the purchase was set aside for the Little League,” Mrs. Matrangas-King told The Consortium at the company’s St. Croix office on Thursday, describing the partnership between Viya and the Little League.

For Viya —  arguably the most benevolent firm in the Virgin Islands from Innovative days, supporting an untold number of organizations with funding for activities in various fields — today’s donation continues a well documented tradition, with the latest effort including customer participation; a template Mrs. Matarangas-King says the company is looking to duplicate.

“It was a great experience and our customers were happy to be part of the process, because they felt like, ‘wow, okay, we’re involved in directly supporting Little League,'” she said. The company has supported the USVI Little League for over 30 years, according to Mrs. Matarangas-King, adding that the firm’s involvement in the community will continue. “We’re not going anywhere,” she said.

Asked why Viya’s involvement in the community has been so strong and consistent, Mrs. Matarangas-King pointed to the firm’s employees — nearly 400 territory-wide — many of whom are involved in various community organizations, which puts Viya in close proximity to many of these groups’ needs.

“We feel very, very vested,” she said. “Everybody here has a tie into something. We live here, and we know that if your community is taken care of, and they’re safe and they feel good, everybody wins.”

Mrs. Matarangas-King alluded to “exciting” initiatives the company has planned for the summer, as well as back-to-school giveaways. She said that Viya is focused on supporting groups that impact the community, with a pointed interest in children.

“We’re focused on the youth because statistics show that you have to take care of that group. They are going to be the future and we have to take care of them,” Mrs. Matarangas-King concluded.

Today’s donation will be received by, among others, Steve Parris, USVI Little League district administrator.