Sandals Foundation, returning guests donate sports gear to TCI Softball Federation

Tamara Bassett, Board Member of the Turks and Caicos Islands Sports Commission and Godfrey Been, president of the Softball Federation accept the softball gear from the Sandals Foundation and the Bertelsmann family recently at the Ball Park downtown Providenciales.

Beaches Turks and Caicos resort returning guests, Moe Bertelsmann and family recently presented softball gear and jerseys to the Turks and Caicos Islands Softball Federation and the Sports Commission.

The family along with the Sandals Foundation team made the presentation to Godfrey Been, President of the Softball Federation and Tamara Bassett, Board Member of the Sports Commission, at the opening of the High School Softball season at the Ball Park in downtown Providenciales.

Semi-professional softball player and Beaches Turks and Caicos guest, Alexa Bertelsmann (left) goes through some catching routine with Maranatha Academy catcher Melliesha Saint-Jean at the start of the high school softball competition at the Ball Park.

The supplies, which include bats, balls, catching helmets, gloves, shin guards, hard hats, catching gear, and practice playing gear will bolster the federation’s ability to provide instructional training while allowing coaches and the players to be more prepared not only for this season but the long term.

General Manager James McAnally shared, “Guests are one of the Sandals Foundation’s greatest partners in providing support to our islands throughout the Caribbean. We are grateful to the Bertelsmann family for their donation to the Softball Federation and hope it will help in developing this fast growing sport.”

President of the Turks and Caicos Islands Softball Federation, Godfrey Been (left), shares a moment with Semi-professional player and Beaches Turks and Caicos guest Alexa Bertelsmann (centre) and Joddy Harvey, Sports Commission Compliance Manager discuss plans for the further partnership with the organisations.

In sharing the inspiration behind the family’s donation, mother, Anne Bertelsmann noted: “As a family we are passionate about the sport of softball and the physical and mental discipline that these activities provide for our youth. When we did our research on the sport here in Turks and Caicos Islands and shared with other families and organisations, they all decided to help. My daughter Alexa even donated some of her lightly used equipment along with friends, Chris Goodfred and Tonia Martin.”

President of the Turks and Caicos Islands Softball Federation, Godfrey Been, expresses his satisfaction to the Sandals Foundation and the Beaches Turks and Caicos resort returning guests the Bertelsmann family for the donation of the softball gear to the federation

Softball Federation president, Godfrey Been, in expressing his appreciation for the gifts shared: “These items came at the right time. As a federation, we have been working on introducing and improving the sports at every high school throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands. With this donation, we now have gears to play practice games as well as helping our local coaches with providing for their players and being better prepared for the future. We are grateful to the Bertelsmann family and the Sandals Foundation for supporting softball here in the region. We will take this and ‘run’ with it to get softball to where it once was, the number one sport.”

Melleisha St. Jean, catcher of the Maranatha Academy’s softball team was impressed by Alexa who joined a few players on the field and traded catching techniques.

“As young players, to see Sandals Foundation and guests sharing with us and even taking the time to give us some playing tips really helped us. I am inspired to continue playing the game,” St. Jean said.