Gatorade’s KC sponsorship just the start
Published:Wednesday | February 1, 2023 | 1:14 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
THE PARTNERSHIP between Kingston College and sports drink brand Gatorade represents more than just an investment in their sports programme, according to principal Dave Myrie, but an investment in shaping the lives of their students.
Myrie was speaking at yesterday’s handover ceremony of the school’s gymnasium, which is a part of Pepsi Cola Jamaica’s US$24,000 ($3,691,686) commitment through the Gatorade brand towards their 2023 sporting programme.
The initiative included a facelift to the school’s gym as well as the donation of sports equipment, as well as Gatorade products for the student-athletes.
While Myrie was pleased with the support from Pepsi Cola for their 2023 sporting year, he is encouraged by the opportunities that students will have beyond the sporting arena, which include possible internships and scholarships for further education.
“This donation has been long coming. For over a year we have been in negotiations and discussions have been going on. And it has come to fruition today [yesterday]. It’s not just the donation that excites me. What excites me is the discussions we have been having about Pepsi Cola being involved in the life of Kingston College. People being involved in the Spanish department because there are Latin American countries involved, talking about internships and even talking about scholarships for post-secondary education. And those are the things that excite me,” Myrie said.
“Those things will have a greater impact on the lives of the youngsters here even more than the donation.”
It is something that Pepsi Cola Jamaica commercial manager Luz Tejada is targeting for all high schools on the island, KC’s sporting pedigree providing the ideal launching pad.
“We really believe in the potential of Jamaican athletes and Kingston College has good relevance in the country. That’s why we want to start with them as a part of a number of initiatives that we will have in all the schools in Jamaica,” Tejada said.
The donation comes just in time for KC as they are in the middle of their track and field season and looking to retain their boys’ title at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletic Championships next month.
While cognisant of the responsibility that the students have to excel with the added support, Myrie hopes the benefits will not be limited to them alone.
“When people donate, it’s not that it’s free, somebody pays for it somewhere. And they need to know that to whom much is given, much is required and they need to produce as well. The bottom line is that if every school has this, it’s great because it is good for Jamaica. Rivalry and all of that may be good, but the bottom line is that all of the students in school are Jamaica’s children and it is about Jamaica’s development.”