PHIIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — On Friday August 14, we hosted our 2nd annual Sports and Fun day at the Melford Hazel Sports facilities. Children’s homes, I Can foundation, Hope Outreach Foundation and New Start Foundation were our special guests as well as over 50 walk in participants including some baseball players involved in Coach Tom Burnett after school program, approximately 110 children.
The day was filled with competitive sports and fun activities for three age groups, 8 and under, 9-12 and 13+. Youngsters played volleyball, basketball, kickball, football, dodgeball, 10Ball, jumping in the bag, lime and spoon races, 3 legged races, jump rope, hula hoops, fishing, spijkerpoepen and water filling from 9 am to 12 pm.
Over 20 volunteers ranging from 13 – 25 years old assisted in leading the games, as well as guiding the participants and seeing to their refreshments. Other volunteers assisted in food preparation.
Participants were refreshed with lots of water, punch and gatorade and enjoyed healthy fruit snacks such as apples, oranges and watermelons. They were also treated to donuts and enjoyed a lunch of hamburgers, hotdogs, tuna or cheese sandwiches.
Each participant received a certificate of participation and winners received bookmakers noting 1st, 2nd or 3rd place. At the end of the day each participant was also awarded a school bag filled with basic school supplies such as copybooks, pens, pencils, ruler, eraser and a plastic folder.
Participants were very happy with the fun day as well as their prizes and gifts at the end of the day.
We look forward to hosting our third annual Back to School Fun and Sports day next year.
We would also thank our sponsors and hard working volunteers for making this event such a success.
Future plans:
We aim to host a fundraising walk and bike-athon, promote volunteerism in schools, after school programs and at sports and arts facilities. One of our goals is also hosting reading and writing sessions/workshops in order to promote literacy and family oriented activities to stimulate parental involvement in their children’s lives.
