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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]On July 31, 2017, Marc Rollins and his wife Ashlee Rollins of Rose Hall stepped onto the field of the Rose Hall 18th Century Aqueduct and kicked off the Annual SOS Village Football Camp. For 15 years, the camp has hosted the children of the SOS Children’s Village for six days which seeks to not only provide football skills training for the children, but also character building activities and overall good sportsmanship development.

July 31 – August 5, 2017, the Rose Hall Football Camp brought together 100 campers and 20 coaches for another great event described by Marc Rollins as “one of the most meaningful charitable events for Rose Hall, my family, the community and indeed myself.” This camp is undeniably the highlight of the summer for the children who are treated to a week of great football, fun activities, some snazzy sports gear and culminates on Saturday with a Beach Bar-B-Que for the Villagers. Coach Ally Weaver spearheaded a project at her school, the Unionville High School, Pennsylvania, called Backpacks for Barrett Town which provided school supplies for the Villagers.

A surprise presentation was made to Marc Rollins for his commitment to the camp which he founded in 2002, when he was 20 years old. The legacy continues with four junior Rollins volunteers. The plaque was presented by the Weaver family who have been coaching at the camp since 2006.

The Georgia Weaver Scholarship was awarded for JMD$500,000 to Tia Dickens for studies at the University of the West Indies by Rose Hall and Friends in honour of long time benefactor and friend of the village.

Each year the programme is supported by  an impressive line-up of former Reggae Boyz Footballers and some of the island’s best coaches – Aaron Lawrence, former Reggae Boyz goal keeper and current coach for the Real Madrid School of Social Integration;  Under 15 Reggae Boyz coaches, Fabian Davis, himself the former Reggae Boyz mid-fielder and defender, and his assistant coach, Gregory Stewart; Linval Wilson, former Reggae Boyz Captain and Coach of the Lacovia High School football team, Granville ‘Papa’ Clarke who serves as Grange Hill’s Coach and former SOS Children’s Village Aunty, Eleanor Groves.  The roster of coaches is completed by Fabienne Davis, Ally Weaver, Natasha Groves, Jessica Arthur and Mikey Marietta who return to volunteer at the camp each year.

The camp is served with pride by former SOS Villagers: Perceval Bahado-Singh, PHD in Bio-Chemistry, and current Chairman of the Board of Directors of Petrojam; as well as Chni Golding, a Registered Nurse with Hospiten Montego Bay; Dennis Cohen, UTECH student; Andrew ‘Stringbean’ Johnson and Hoween Griffiths, both employees of Rose Hall Devs.

At Friday’s Awards Ceremony, Spanish Ambassador to Jamaica, and President of the Spanish-Jamaican Foundation, His Excellency Josep Bosch, heralded the accomplishments of the young campers focusing on the importance of education, integrity and determination through the game of football, and indeed life.

Sandro Fabris, General Manager of the Half Moon Resort, praised the effort of the coaches and coordinators of the camp for their influence on Jamaica’s children. “Hosting the coaches at Half Moon and providing lunches for the Villagers was our absolute pleasure. These children are Jamaica’s future!”

Scott and Jodie Weaver and Coach Ally, presented the Gene Weaver Award for the fifth year to “the camper who exhibits discipline, passion, enthusiasm and politeness throughout the camp,” in honour of their Dad, former Financial Vice-President of Rollins Jamaica, Gene Weaver.

Rollins family matriarch, Michele Rollins, commented on the awesome support from the community for this event each year, “The success of this event is a real testimony to corporate Montego Bay working together to develop the children of Jamaica.  We could never do this without the help of our friends from CPJ, Hospiten, Iberostar, Hilton Hotel, Half Moon Hotel, Melia Braco, Signature Cakes and Desserts, Jamaica Tours Ltd, Megamart, Tastee, Scotchies, Pure National Ice, Exclusive Hospitality Security and the committed and hardworking staff of Rose Hall Devs.”

To celebrate their second wedding anniversary, and birth of their first child, Samantha Rose, Perceval Bahado-Singh and his wife Dr Brynne Reece will share a 3-tier pink confection with all the Villagers at Saturday’s Beach Bar-B-Que.

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