Goals, programs or projects in the works:
The Bahamas Children's Emergency Hostel

One of our greatest challenges for 2007, aided by the establishment of this website, continues to be to raise our profile in the community; to reach more people on a regular basis with a more powerful message. Through the site we are able to keep volunteers, donors and prospective donors informed on the progress we are making, on projects we need help with, on goals that we hope to meet and on accomplishments that we have achieved.

We have recently set up an ambitious, though simple to apply, fundraising initiative for corporations and small businesses. Please contact Michelle Patterson at Michelle.Patterson@ansbacher.bs or 502-3724 for details.

We are in the process of tendering 2-3 quotations to present to Cable Bahamas “We Care” Program and to The Lyford Cay Foundation who have offered to fund repairs to two separate areas at BCEH.

We have set up coin boxes at Nassau International Airport to collect spare change from departing tourists.

Our biggest dream, once we have secured consistent funding, along with a stronger commitment from even more volunteers, would be to implement a series of scheduled off-site extracurricular activities such as arts & crafts, music, sports & fitness, dance & drama, health & nutrition, computer skills and environmental studies. Many of the children living at BCEH already show a great deal of promise in spite of the emotional upheaval that brought them to us in the first place…NOW they must be given the opportunity to flourish and expand their horizons. By providing access to resources already in place on the island and integrating the children into these specialized programs, we can do our best to prepare them for the future so they become well-rounded, successful, thoughtful and proud members of Bahamian society.

Love the Children Golf Tournament, June 23, 2007

On June 23, 2007, with Bahamas Ferries as our primary sponsor and under the guidance of The Bahamas Golf Federation, we are holding a second annual charity golf tournament at The Radisson Cable Beach Golf Resort. Our first "Love the Children" tournament in 2006 was a tremendous success (see press release below) and we hope to see the same success this year. We are still looking for volunteers to assist with the event, sponsors and donors as well as players. Please contact Andrew Farrington at andrew@bahamasferries.com or call at 394-9710.

THE BAHAMAS CHILDREN’S EMERGENCY HOSTEL

McKinney Drive off Carmichael Road, P. O. Box CR-54506, Nassau, Bahamas
Phone: 361-4124 or 341-1951 Fax: 361-7471
Email: bceh@coralwave.com
BAHAMASFERRIES
Potter’s Cay, P. O. Box N-3709, Nassau, Bahamas
Phone: 323-2166 Fax: 393-7451 Email: info@bahamasferries.com

PRESS RELEASE:
On June 18, 2006 Bahamas Ferries, with the support of The Bahamas Golf Federation, successfully hosted their First Annual “Love The Children” Golf Tournament at The Radisson Cable Beach Golf Resort to benefit the young residents of The Bahamas Children’s Emergency Hostel (BCEH).

BCEH was originally founded in 1962 as a temporary childcare facility in the Oakes Field area. The Kiwanis Club of Nassau later purchased an acre of land and erected a permanent residence on McKinney Drive, off Carmichael Road.  The function of the hostel has evolved over the years and now serves as a home for up to 37 children, from one to eleven years of age. The children are referred to BCEH from Social Services, usually as a result of a family crisis; most often they have been abandoned, abused or neglected. The hostel staff and volunteers are dedicated to the shelter, safety, health, education and welfare of the children; they provide loving structure in a secure and nurturing environment, along with psychological support. The operating costs to run the facility increase every year and making ends meet is always a challenge for the administration and the board. BCEH receives some funding from the Bahamian Government through the Department of Social Services and Community Development, but also relies heavily on donations to survive. 

Bahamas Ferries and BCEH invited the community to join them, either to play in the tournament or to participate through sponsorship or donations.  The tournament hosted 76 golfers. Starbucks set up a complimentary coffee bar before, and an iced tea bar after the tournament. Thirteen prizes were awarded to the winning golfers…Two games of Golf for 4 at The Ocean Club; Meals for 2 at Luciano’s, Bimini Road and Zio Gigi’s; Electronics from Custom Computers and Master Technicians; Ferry Travel Packages from Bahamas Ferries; Tickets to Jokers Wild, Ardastra Gardens, Atlantis, Hartley’s Undersea Walk, Thriller Powerboat Tours and Dolphin Encounters; as well as a Golfing Weekend for 2 at Treasure Cay.  There was a Silent Auction Table and Draw Prizes were awarded to Individual and Small Business Sponsors.
Eight of the residents from BCEH attended the tournament and contributed to the festivities, with the trophy presentations being the highlight.

We would like to take this opportunity to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our sponsors and donors for making the tournament an enormous success: The Mosko Group of Companies, The Ocean Club, NUCA Insurance Agency, Kerzner International Development, Apex Awards Signs & Engraving, Paradise Blue Water Limited (PBWL), Dolphin Encounters, AFP Mechanical, Bahamas Food Packaging, Nassau Hotel & Restaurant Supplies, GT Electric, Bahamas Realty, Executive Printers, Traditions Management, Zet Master, Osprey Developers, Master Technicians, T-Rex Screen Printing, Lutra Pure, Custom Computers, Atlantis/Kerzner International, John Bull/Starbucks, Artist Jane Waterous, Treasure Cay Hotel Resort & Marina, Zio Gigi’s, Hartley’s Undersea Walk, Bahamas Marine Construction, Seascape Designs, Andronowski & Associates, Mulvey & Banani, Wayne Swadron Architect Limited, Bahamas Office & School Supplies, Luciano’s of Chicago, News Café, Nassau Motor Company, The Myers Group, Citco Fund Services, Bimini Road, Joker’s Wild, Colina Imperial Insurance Limited, Len & Angelica Stuart, Thriller Powerboat Tours, Cheyenne Cartwright, Family Dental Centre, Bahamas Maritime Connexion, Doctor’s Hospital, Michael Diggiss, Damianos Realty, Ragheb Dajani, Evan & Renee Feinman, Exceller’s Company Limited, Yvonne & Andrew Pike, Ken Braithwaite, Ardastra Gardens, Post Boxes Etc., Sigmund Soudack & Associates and BSI Overseas (Bahamas) Limited.

The tournament raised a grand total of close to $39,000 in donated items, sponsorships, registration fees and donated services. A cheque for over $21,000 was proudly presented to the chairman of the board of directors, Mr. Arthur Peet.

If you missed the opportunity to contribute and would like to do so now, please contact Andrew Farrington by phone at 394-9710 or by e-mail at andrew@bahamasferries.com.

The website for the hostel, created, managed and funded by Think Simple Limited, is now up and running…please visit www.ceh.org.bs to learn more.

BCEH