Marine Vocational Program Receives $15,000 Donation From NYC Eastern Caribbean Relief Fund

ST. THOMAS — Over a dozen U.S. Virgin Islands’ student members of the nonprofit Marine Vocational Program (MVP) can now continue and advance their marine education thanks to a donation of $15,000 from the NYC Eastern Caribbean Relief Fund, Inc., founded and funded by Island Capital Group, LLC. and Island Global Yachting, Ltd. (IGY), a release issued Friday has made known.

“This generous donation will enable us to provide MVP students with their basic PADI dive certification, opening their eyes and minds to their underwater surroundings,” says Jimmy Loveland, MVP program director and long-time professional sports fishing captain who moved to the island in 1964.

According to the release, a delightful bit of serendipity led to this valuable and life-changing donation. That is, Loveland’s son, Marc Loveland, had the recent pleasure of sitting next to Tom Mukamal, IGY’s CEO, on a plane flight. A conversation ensued between the two and Marc soon recounted his father’s long dedication to the Virgin Islands community and the youth that live on the island. The U.S. territory is one in which Mukamal is very familiar, as IGY manages both Yacht Haven Grand and American Yacht Harbor marinas on St. Thomas. 

“Tom wanted to reach out to the Jimmy, and especially the children. by donating to the Marine Vocational Program,” says Elizabeth DiDomenico, general manager of IGY’s American Yacht Harbor.

Island Capital Group, LLC. and Island Global Yachting, Ltd., along with the organization’s investors, friends, customers and partners compassionately created the NYC Eastern Caribbean Relief Fund for the explicit purpose of aiding in the recovery, relief and humanitarian needs of those living in the Eastern Caribbean following profound devastation caused by hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017.  Founded in 2005, IGY focuses on acquiring, controlling and/or servicing luxury-yacht marinas and the surrounding upland real estate properties. Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, IGY also has offices in New York, NY; St. Thomas, USVI.

The MVP Program, started in 2007 and locally-registered as a not-for-profit in 2017, operates to serve as a vocational institution that provides U.S. Virgin Islands youth with a career path into the marine/hospitality/tourism industries. MVP programs include learn-to-swim, sailing, small boat handling and operation skills and scuba diving. Current MVP students are also members of the Boys & Girls Club of St. Thomas and St. John.