The Abaco Club and Residents of Abaco Raise Funds for Every Child Counts School

From left to right, Mr. Edison Key, MP for South Abaco, Mrs. Lyn Major, principal of ECC, Mr. Chad Sawyer, owner of Price Right and Maxwell Food Stores and Mr. Mike Brown, director sales and marketing at The Abaco Club.

By:  Stone McEwan

ABACO, The Bahamas – October 15, 2007 – For a second straight year, The Abaco Club on Winding Bay, A Ritz-Carlton Managed Club, hosted a fundraiser to assist Every Child Counts (ECC), a school for children with special needs in Marsh Harbour, Abaco. The nearly 100 people in attendance were treated to a sumptuous buffet prepared by The Club’s Executive Chef, Simeon Hall Jr., and live entertainment provided by Clint Sawyer. A silent auction, organized once again by Chad Sawyer, owner of Price Right and Maxwell’s food stores in Marsh Harbour, was one of the highlights of the evening. The event raised over $50,000 for the school.

“Our operating costs will be $250,000 this year,” said Lyn Major, principal of ECC. “Our school does not receive government funding, so we are totally dependent on donations to maintain our operation. We are very appreciative for all the support rendered to us by the corporate and private citizens on Abaco.”

Every year, the number of students at ECC escalates, resulting in the need for additional classrooms, teachers and financial aid. Upon becoming aware of this, Peter de Savary, founder and chairman of The Abaco Club, opened the doors of The Club to ECC in 2003 hosting children of the school to a Fun Day—the first event hosted by The Club. The Abaco Club’s commitment to assisting ECC has continued with the entry of The Ritz-Carlton.

Mike Brown, director of sales and marketing at The Club said, “We are committed to maintaining a strong relationship with ECC. At The Ritz-Carlton, we embrace a program called Community Footprints, where we develop partnerships with local organizations to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. We believe our efforts to assist the ECC programs are a powerful way to contribute to our community.”

Also in attendance at the event was the Member of Parliament for South Abaco, Edison Key. “It does my heart good to see so many persons come to the aid of the less fortunate,” said Mr. Key. “Like the good book says, ‘we are our brother’s keeper.’ When I look at how the school is growing, there may be a need to consider relocation of the school to some of the Crown Land acreage throughout Abaco. This will allow further managed expansions in the future. After all, Abaco is still growing and will continue to do so, and there will always be a need for a fine institution as this.”