Big money for GK100-metre winners

COINCIDING WITH GraceKennedy’s 100th anniversary, Chief Executive Officer Don Wehby says that yesterday’s hotly contested 100 metres finals at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships (Champs) was more incentivised because of the organisation’s continued mission of supporting the young athletes of Jamaica on and off the field.

As part of the celebrations, GraceKennedy branded yesterday’s boys and girls’ 100m finals, GK100m. More interestingly, the winners of each race took home $100,000 for their education needs and $100,000 for the school. Additionally, the prizes will extend to the 4x100m relays finals, which will take place on Saturday.

According to Wehby, $155 million has been invested in Champs this year, and he says that the continued strength of the brand and its impact on student-athletes and Jamaica had justified his decision to partner with the event 15 years ago.

“From the feedback from my team, there is a lot of excitement about that in terms of the incentive (GK100m) to win. When we made the decision 15 years ago (to sponsor Champs), I said it is an investment in our schools, it is an investment in our boys and girls and it is an investment in education,” Wehby told The Gleaner.

“If you think about the joy and entertainment of Champs as the greatest high school meet anywhere in the world, it is a pleasure, and we are so happy to be involved. We feel very privileged and blessed that we have been a part of this journey for the last 15 years.”

BIGGEST FINANCIAL SPONSORSHIP COMMITMENT

GraceKennedy’s financial investment, according to Wehby, has averaged $100 million throughout the year and represents their biggest financial sponsorship commitment. It is a commitment that Webhy says that he is eager to continue making. Wheby said he was also pleased with the positive relationship GraceKennedy had with ISSA. Noting the multiple World and Olympic champions who got their start at Champs, Wehby said the legacy GraceKennedy was a part of was significant.

“It has been the biggest commitment to any marketing that we have done in the GraceKennedy Group for the last 15 years, and we are prepared to continue to sponsor it because we are very pleased with how we work with ISSA and we are pleased with the professionalism and we are pleased we are giving the children the opportunity (to compete),” Wehby said.

“This is a win-win for Grace, a win-win for the schools, and a win-win for Jamaica.”

daniel.wheeler@gleanerjm.com