Shaggy and Friends delight Jamaica’s youth

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Shaggy walks on stage and smiles at the audience reaction pj

 

At the closing of a week well spent with Shaggy and Friends, the artiste announced at a press conference earlier today, January 7, that the profit approximated to 27 million Jamaican dollars. The week included the concert “Shaggy and Friends: One Ticket=One Life: I Dare You”, at Jamaica House, and the launch of the book Shaggy Parrot and the Reggae band(spearheaded by Jana Bent) aimed at raising funds for the Bustamante Children’s Hospital. The book’s launch was held at the Kingston and St Andrew Parish library, Tom Redcam Avenue.
The press conference was held in the old Operating Theatre, beside the ICU, of the Bustamante Children’s Hospital.
According to Orville “Shaggy” Burrell expenses totaled 8 million, aside from sponsorship which included volunteers from Scotiabank, advertising from the press, water from WISYNCO air travel from Air Jamaica. The estimated profit, he artiste explained was accumulated from ticket sales, donations and the auction which was for guests in the Platinum section.

J$1.5 million was raised at the auction alone. He explained that the sum of J$23 million garnered from ticket sales (201 platinum tickets sold at J$20,000 each, 961 gold tickets at $10,000 each, 2090 silver tickets at J$5,000 each and 22 children’s tickets each at J$2,500). The artiste who himself paid for 12 silver tickets for his family to attend applauded sponsors who additionally bought tickets outside of their contributions. He further explained that 287 complimentary tickets amounting to $1,435,000 was awarded.

He also specially applauded companies such as Cocoa Cola who contributed J$1 million to offset expenses, in addition to a pledge of $J2 million directly to the hospital. Squeeze has also pledged US$6,000 to the Shaggy foundation.
According to Robert, one of the organisers expenses are still being calculated which may result in a slightly reduced figure to be handed over to the Hospital.
The figure is no where nearing the target of US$2 million, but is just sufficient to create a dent, reducing the needs list he had been presented, the artiste explained further. Far more rewarding is the “awareness raised”, and the evidence that “despite our faults, we can rise to the occasion”, he said. So far, there have been interests and commitments to do it all again next year by just about all the participants.
Dr Lambert Ennis, Consultant Anaesthetic, in representing the hospital is nonetheless elated, and applauded Shaggy and girlfriend Rebecca for the first time concert effort, after their seven year involvement with the hospital. According to him, it has not yet been decided just how the funds will be allocated, as senior managers including from the Hospital and South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA) will have to meet to decide.

Priority
As priority, The Hospital’s CEO, Hugh Porter, lists the need for equipment. From an equipment needs list totaling $US7,000, he identifies for example a ventilator as being needed. On the other hand, Mr Ennis hinted that priority could also be placed on intensive care units, operating theatre, accidental emergency department.
Founder of Reggae Sunsplash, Mr Ronnie Burke who was the first guest speaker commented that the event and process, from the press announcement on September 3 to the execution of the show on January 6 as the highlight of his 30-year experience.
The hospital currently caters to an average of 253 patients daily. 283 in residence including 30 visiting.

According to Porter, so far another entertainer “Toots” has independently donated $US5,000.
Major sponsors included WISYNCO, Digicel, Scotiabank, The Gleaner Company, The Jamaica Observer, Stewart’s Audio, Sagicor, CVM TV, TVJ, RJR Communications Group, Jacqui Tyson (Thought to Finish), and Turn Key Productions. Other sponsors included Chocolate Dreams, Hilton, Solid Agency, Air Jamaica, Phoenix Printery and Get Caught Media.




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