Bogdanovich commits companies to hurricane relief

Investor Joe Bogdanovich announced yesterday the launch of Caribbean Love, a hurricane relief campaign that will support rebuilding programmes in islands affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

Entities Bogdanovich has made partners of Caribbean Love are Reggae Sumfest, Downsound Records, Downsound Entertainment, FranJam, KLE, Usain Bolt's Tracks & Records, H&L Rapid True Value, H&L Agro, Parkland Industrial Co, Argyle Industries, and the R Hotel.

The businesses and brands with which Bogdanovich is associated will rally donations in cash and kind.

"As human beings, we should all be deeply concerned by what has happened over the course of the hurricane season. But this is an opportunity for us to define who we are as Caribbean people. The devastation must be met with hope, unity, and a sense of purpose," said Bogdanovich.

Monumental venture

The entities will participate in their own way.

"We're doing a pretty monumental thing. We gathered 11 companies to donate and put their time into it. We're talking a lot of employees behind this. The others maybe don't have that kind of firepower, but we're real serious about it. We will consult with the Salvation Army to deploy goods and cash from these companies and have a clear understanding on how we as a group and as a nation can make a productive difference to returning growth and stability to these countries," Bogdanovich said.

Hardware & Lumber will also donate equipment and building supplies. Bogdanovich also hopes to unite the musical fraternity in hosting Reggae Sumfest Reloaded: The Benefit. The concert and telethon set to take place in Kingston is tentatively scheduled for November 2017. "We have plans, and we're hoping we can get united. I'm really about unity through music, and it's a hard thing to do. This is a great example of how you can turn a negative into a positive, by uniting everyone through the common good," he said.

Jamaicans are invited to place donations of canned food, clothing, tarpaulins batteries, solar lamps, and other supplies in containers donated by Parkland Industrial Co at all 15 H&L Rapid True Value and H&L Agro stores across the island.

All donations will be distributed to the people of the affected islands.

Bogdanovich appealed to corporations and artistes to join Caribbean Love.

"Now, more than ever, we have to stand up for our Caribbean brothers and sisters. No one could have imagined that so much could be lost so quickly. Jamaica is in the position to help in a meaningful way, and we must act together," he said.