LAUDERDALE LAKES – On Saturday (Dec. 4), the Coalition of Jamaican Alumni Associations (CJAA) in South Florida will come together for its first annual All Alumni Walkathon at the Vincent Torres Park in Lauderdale Lakes.
The 5-K Marathon (nearly five miles) will begin at 8 a.m. and is the first joint event of the local alumni chapters in South Florida, since the inauguration earlier, in September at the general meeting in Fort Lauderdale.
Members and friends of more than 50 alumni chapters of Jamaican educational institutions, those in rural communities as well as those in the Corporate Area, will participate in the event coordinated by the Consulate General of Jamaica, the City of Lauderdale Lakes and the Jamaican Diaspora Southern United States and the CJAA. The CJAA is the brainchild of Dr. Rupert Rhodd, Professor of Economics at the Florida Atlantic University , and Dr. Sandra Schroeder, Professor, Public Administration at Barry University, Miami and both members of the Wolmer’s Alumni Chapter, Florida Chapter.
Persons walking in the marathon are expected to raise funds through a pledge process. “Proceeds from the proposed event will benefit the alma maters, as participating alumni bodies will individually raise funds from monetary pledges through the date of the Race, this Saturday” according to Dr. Rupert Rhodd, coordinator of the event. He appealed to persons to be encouraged to participate in Saturday’s walkathon in support of a healthier lifestyle as well as leading the way for educational excellence in Jamaica and the local Diasporic communities.
Dr. Rhodd who is also the initiator of the newly-formed Coalition of alumni chapters (CJAA), told JIS News that the event this Saturday “is one effective method to raise funds in support of educational development in Jamaica. The more pledges you secure, the more funds will be raised for your alma mater.”
Through earlier collaboration with members of the individual chapters, persons have been working diligently in the community for the benefit of educational development in Jamaica.”
Over the years, members of alumni chapters of Jamaican educational institutions across the Diaspora have fervently contributed to the welfare of their schools in Jamaica.
Alumni associations have always been an integral part of the education system in Jamaica, often providing well needed resources to schools through fundraising ventures. The support system includes contributions to infrastructure development, student mentoring, scholarship and sports programmes.
Renewed interests have seen a resurgence in activities geared towards further garnering of even more resources to aid national education development. This is evidenced in the launching of other schools forming associations, including those at primary levels, and today, the forging of relationships through the forming of a coalition of the several alumni associations for the same purpose.
At Saturday’s event, trophies will be presented to the chapter with the most teamsters as well as the team who managed to raise the largest monetary collection.
For more information contact Dr. Rupert Rhodd (954-242-2529) or Dr. Sandra Schroder (954-709-1618).
