PHILIPSBURG:--- A team of over 45 boaters and marine industry professionals organized by IGY Marinas descended on the I Can Foundation on Saturday February 20th to help Mrs. Cassandra “Debby” Gibbs and her team with some renovation work and other projects aimed at helping to make the I Can Foundation property in Dutch Quarter a bit more comfortable for all of the children and volunteers that call it home.
IGY Marinas’ Inspire Giving through You charity event was held across the Caribbean and Mexico portion of IGY’s network of marinas last Saturday as a way for the multinational marina company to give back to the communities where their facilities are located. Brian Deher, Director of Marina Operations for IGY Marinas and General Manager for the Yacht Club Isle de Sol and the Simpson Bay Marina on St. Maarten, stated “The most important attribute of any of our marina facilities is the people that work there and the community at large. We were very happy to work with Mrs. Gibbs, all the volunteers, and the children of the I Can Foundation as their cause is noble and necessary. It’s very remarkable what the I Can Foundation has accomplished over the years and we stand ready to assist their team to the extent we can; not just last Saturday but also going forward as there is still a lot of work that needs to be done.”
During lGY’s charity event last Saturday the volunteer team of boaters and marine professionals focused on building a new roof, painting the front of the building and a perimeter wall, upgrading bathrooms, changing doors, locks, and hinges in many of the bedrooms, as well as installing a new window and general cleaning up of the property around the home. Over the past couple of months IGY has taken over 4 truckloads of donations up to the I Can Foundation. The donated items were collected from vessels staying at the Yacht Club Isle de Sol and the Simpson Bay Marina and included beds, air conditioners, linens, towels, food, beverages, cloths, books, and other useful items.
“On behalf of IGY Marinas, I would like to thank all of the volunteers for their efforts, Domino’s Pizza for sponsoring lunch for the volunteers and the children, International Yacht Collection and National Marine for their financial contributions, as well as a very special local fisherman who wanted to remain anonymous. Our fisherman friend’s donation will allow us to build a new, much needed perimeter wall on the property. Everyone involved was amazed at the generosity and commitment by the local and international community and we’re all committed to continuing to work with the I Can Foundation going forward as there is still a lot of work to do.” Concluded Deher.
Mrs. Gibbs remarked “It was such an awesome and heart moving experience to see all those people descend on the I Can Home ready to work and filled with enthusiasm. We appreciate all the work that they did around and in the house; especially the roof that was added on at back of the house, which will allowed our children to do more outdoor activities.
“On behalf of the children, staff and volunteers of The I Can Children Home, we will like to send a big up to all the persons that took time out of their busy schedule to give so unselfishly. Their enthusiasm and interactions was very inspiring and great motivation for the children and staff of our home.”
Mrs. Gibbs continued by saying “To our anonymous fisherman friend we will like to send a special thanks to you, for the construction of the wall to help keep our children more safe. To Mr. Brian Deher and the staff of IGY especially Isle del Sol and Simpson Bay Marina, to Mr. Bert Fowels Vice President Marketing and Sales that traveled all the way from Fort Lauderdale to be part of this heart moving project - thank you for seeing with the heart and not the eyes!
