The Shaggy Make A Difference Foundation (SMADF) continues their
altruistic work with the sixth staging of the unifying charity concert, Shaggy
& Friends, scheduled for Saturday, January 6, 2018, on the prestigious
lawns of Jamaica House, St. Andrew.
Co-Produced by Rebecca Packer-Burrell, executive director of SMADF,
Shaggy & Friends is the main vehicle through which the organization keeps
its pledge to meaningfully partner with and assist the Bustamante Hospital for
Children. Proceeds from this show will go towards increasing the beds in the
Intensive Care Unit of the hospital, the sole pediatric facility in the island
and the only full-service children’s hospital in the English-speaking
Caribbean. Sharon Burke, CEO, Solid Agency also supports the event as
Co-Producer
“The Bustamante Hospital for Children Paediatric Intensive Care
Unit is the only one of its kind in the English speaking Caribbean. We admit
150 patients annually to this 5 bedded facility but are beset by the
consequences of resource limitations; inadequate physical space, inconsistent
supplies of critical items, difficulty with acquisition of cutting-edge
equipment as well as maintenance of the equipment we have, are challenges we
encounter in our quest to offer world-class service in this Unit” explains Dr.
Brian
James, Head of the Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care.
“We therefore, feel extraordinarily grateful to the Shaggy & Friends
Foundation for their on-going efforts in assisting the Hospital and the Unit.
Please keep it going” Dr. James added.
Totally committed to the project on several levels, Mrs.
Packer-Burrell notes that organizing the 2018 staging of the biennial concert
has been an incredible experience and emphasizes that the end product will be
“truly awesome”. The event boasts a fantastic artiste line-up which includes
heavyweight international acts performing alongside exceptional homegrown
talents, all of whom have expressed a strong commitment to this cause.Among the
acts confirmed for Shaggy & Friends, 2018 are Sting, Wyclef Jean, Fetty
Wap, Bunji Garlin and Fay-Ann Lyons, Christopher Martin, Aidonia, Dexta Daps,
Junior Reid, Shenseea, Barrington Levy, Third World, Chaka Demus and Pliers,
Capleton, Professor Nuts and Wayne Wonder.
Founder and chairman of the SMADF, Orville ‘Shaggy” Burrell
confesses that he is “super excited and humbled” at being given this wonderful
opportunity to significantly make a difference. “We are as committed to this
project as we were when we first staged Shaggy & Friends in 2009. If
anything, the fire is burning even brighter. This project has taken over a part
of my life and I wouldn’t have it any other way. It is a great experience to be
able to partner with our patrons, sponsors, other organizations and dedicated
individuals to save the lives of children – our future. Again, I must commend
the caring doctors and nurses at Bustamante Hospital for Children, who work
tirelessly to perform their duties, regardless of the circumstances,” Shaggy
declared.
Sponsors on board are Scotiabank, Wisynco-Wata, Stewarts Automotive
Group, KFC-Restaurants of Jamaica, Lasco, The Atlas Group, PhoenixPrintery,
Jacqui Tyson- From Thought To Finish, Rainforest Seafoods, Jamaica Broilers,
Zoukie’s, Team Solutions. And media partners BrandProfit, It’sPixel Perfect,
Jamaica Observer, Market Me, Moonstone Blue, Phase 3 Productions and The RJR
Group.
Among the partners is chef extraordinaire and décor specialist,
Jacqui Tyson of From Thought To Finish, who has easily re-committed to this
one-of-a-kind, 100% charity concert. “Being on board this project is not
something that I have to even think about,
it’s just something that I have to do. It is said that it is
better to give than to receive and I must say that being on board Shaggy &
Friends has helped me to experience this truism. I really must commend Shaggy
and his team for their hard work and dedication and I am looking forward to
serving up a delectable feast for Platinum patrons come January 6, 2018. And,
of course, the décor will be truly a wow factor,” the businesswoman stated, as
she flashed her signature bright smile.
Shaggy and Friends Benefit Concert had its inaugural staging on
January 3, 2009, after which the Shaggy Make A Difference Foundation was
born.The organization has since donated more than US$1.5million in equipment
and services thanks to the proceeds from the Shaggy & Friends concerts.
#teamshaggy4kids
Early bird Tickets will go on sale at midnight Wednesday, December 6, go to
caribtix.com or through
Shaggy Make A Difference Foundation (SMADF) website
Contact: Angela Thame
Telephone: 876-999-7907
