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Calabar gets $200,000 boost from 7 Up

Published:Wednesday | March 28, 2018 | 12:00 AMRobert Bailey/Gleaner Writer
Errol Crosby
Elizabeth Swaby (left), carbonated beverages brand manager of Pepsi, hands over her company's cheque to principal of Calabar High, Albert Corcho, during yesterday's press conference, which was held at the school on Red Hills Road. Looking on at centre is head boy Jhevonte Webster.

Principal of ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys' Athletics Championships winners Calabar High, Albert Corcho, has expressed his delight after soft drink company Pepsi, through its brand 7 Up, donated $200,000 towards the school's educational programme yesterday.

Elizabeth Swaby, carbonated beverages brand manager of Pepsi, handed over her company's cheque to Corcho during a brief ceremony at the school on Red Hills Road.

Corcho said the funds are a major boost for the school's academic programme because it will help to assist the top-performing students between 10th and 13th grades.

"We are happy that they have come on board," said Corcho. "They have made a donation of $200,000 towards the academic programme at Calabar and we are happy for that. We are going to identify the top students in grades 10, 11, 12 and 13 and the funds will be used to help those young men in terms of their academic work," Corcho said.

He added: "We are also happy because I keep on telling people that Calabar is not just about track and field, as we have done well academically, and this is another way that corporate Jamaica is helping out."

Swaby said her company is committed to assisting with the development of the school's educational programme.

"The words 7 Up went viral based on Calabar's seven straight wins at Champs, and as a result we saw how much they were supporting the brand and how much they were pushing the brand through their natural coining of 7 Up," said Swaby.

"We have always kept our eyes on Calabar and we always wanted to be involved with them, and we finally got the go-ahead to truly make an impact. We want to do more and so this just a small token of our appreciation of our love and support for them, and so we definitely hope that there are more things to come from our end," she stated.

Calabar secured their seventh straight hold on the Mortimer Geddes Trophy last Saturday after scoring 368.50 points. They were followed by Kingston College 278; Jamaica College 224.50; St Jago 146; St Elizabeth Technical 95, and Wolmer's Boys 94.5.