The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

THE Lignum Vitae Centre of Hope is raising funds for its community outreach programmes with a rock n roll event featuring a new band hailing all the way from Spain.

Sammy T and Los Labios will make their way to the Bahamas to perform during the centre’s ‘Rocking Buena Vista’ event to be held on April 5 at the John Watlings Distillery at 8pm.

According to the event’s organisers, patrons can expect to hear some of the “best rock and roll music of the ‘50s and ‘60s – the sound and the songs that cut loose from standard ballads and inspired a whole new genre of music, from Elvis Presley to The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and everyone else since then.”

The event will feature five hours of music, dancing, mixed drinks, appetisers and late night bites. There will also be VIP seating and guests can socialise with the band. Songs from those eras can also be requested in advance.

Lignum Vitae is a registered charity in the Bahamas whose mission statement is: “Empowering Women and Children to build a stronger community”. The organisation’s programmes aim to provide Bahamian youth with a safe, dynamic, educational environment and opportunities through it’s US based 4H programming, activities and a cooperative agreement with the University of Florida.

In the US, 4H is a youth organisation administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture of the United States Department of Agriculture, with the mission of “engaging youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development”.

The board and the volunteers of Lignum Vitae, led by Shelagh Pritchard, are dedicated to making their ‘Better is Possible’ slogan a reality every day.

To help them in this endeavour, Sammy T and the band Los Labios jumped at the opportunity to donate their time and talent to making the upcoming event a great one.

Ms Pritchard said while the event is an opportunity for people to enjoy great music, they will also have a chance to contribute to a good cause.

“It was an opportunity for us to do something different. So we thought it might be great to plan a music evening and give everyone a chance to hear rock n roll music. So there is something people from those in my time line and younger ones can enjoy.

“We encourage people to come out because they will be making a valuable contribution to the people who need it most, “ she said.

“Sammy T is huge rock and roll fan. He grew up as a rock and roll musician and it has always been a passion. He put the band together and they have toured Spain and parts of the US,” she said.

The funds raised from the event will go towards assisting the centre’s numerous outreach activities, including the 4H Project and the ‘Hands Up’ sewing programme.

“We want to ignite the spark, curiosity and creativity within every child.

“It is important that we catch these children’s interest when they are young and excited to be engaged in recreational activities and help them develop their talents, responsibility, thinking and leadership skills. Every child counts,” Ms Pritchard said.

The Lignum Vitae ‘Hands Up’ sewing programme gives single, unemployed mothers valuable skill-training as a basis for self-sufficiency. The organisation teamed up with the Bahamas Crisis Centre for this effort.

Tickets for ‘Rocking Buena Vista’ are available at Custom Computers (Harbour Bay and Cable Beach), Asa H Pritchard on Robinson and Claridge Roads, Italian Dolce in the Seagrapes Shopping Centre, The Sign Man on Shirley Street and the Gallery at Old Fort Bay Shopping Centre.