ST. THOMAS — Lieutenant Governor Osbert Potter on Saturday gave welcome remarks at the opening ceremony of the Verne Lynch Hospital Ground Inter-Neighborhood Basketball Tournament on St. Thomas, as part of an effort Mr. Potter has launched dubbed the “Stimulating and Uplifting Neighborhoods” (S.U.N. Project). The tournament is an initiative of Mr. Potter’s office through a partnership with community leaders and faith-based organizations, according to a release Mr. Potter’s office issued today.
The basketball tournament was organized as a mentorship program to keep the youth actively and positively engaged during the summer, according to the release. Other program participants at the opening ceremony were Shaniece Charlemagne of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor; Pastor Merle Malone of the Frederick Evangelical Lutheran Church; Christina Miller of the Laquinna Hennis Foundation; Senate President Myron D. Jackson; Akira Pickering; Pastor Oral Hazell of Global Life Church; and Mr. Verne Lynch, who was honored during the ceremony.
The tournament, consisting of 5 teams with males 13 and over, was one of the first activities of the SUN Project that will take place throughout St. Thomas.
As a result of inclement weather, the games scheduled for Sunday, August 20, were rescheduled for Thursday, August 24 at 6:00 p.m., and will continue on August 25 through 26, at 7:00 pm, followed by an awards ceremony and the Hospital Ground Family Fun & Appreciation Day on August 27, 2017 at 4:00 p.m.
This collaborative event was sponsored by the executive staff of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor; Nigel O. Hodge Foundation; Molina Medicaid Solutions; Hot on the Spot; the VI Department of Sports, Parks & Recreation; We From Upstreet, Inc.; Laquinna Hennis Foundation; School Busing, Inc.; Parents Matter; Glow #1 Services; Poison Band, International; and Caribbean Tees Printing & Embroidery.
Mr. Potter thanked all the events’ sponsors, and invited the entire community to support the tournament by attending the games as well as the fun day, where there will be free giveaways including school bags and school supplies to the first 100 students. New Balance sneakers to selected underserved community members and school uniforms will also be given free of charge, according to the release.
For more information, contact Shaniece Charlemagne, chief policy advisor at the Office of the Lieutenant Governor at 340-774-2991 extension 4117.
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