Businesses across the city give support to GASP

The Guyana Association of Scrabble Players (GASP) is receiving massive support from corporate society as they aim to send national scrabble champion Abigail McDonald to the World Scrabble Championships in November.

Moen Gafoor receives yet another donation from Starr Computers Supervisor Penny Francis as Leon Belony looks  on.
Moen Gafoor receives yet another donation from Starr Computers Supervisor Penny Francis as Leon Belony looks on.

Over the past week members of the association have been doing the rounds, receiving sponsorship from numerous business places in Georgetown.

On Thursday, Hardware Emporium, Demerara Fire and General Insurance, Industrial Safety Supplies, Akbar and Starr Computers all gave their generous support for McDonald’s travel expenses or the GASP raffle.

Last week the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) donated an Xbox console, one of the lavish prizes up for grabs.

Courts Inc. Public Relations Officer Pernell Cummings (left) hands over the refridgerator to Abigail McDonald in support of the GASP’s raffle. At centre is Leon Belony of the scrabble association.
Courts Inc. Public Relations Officer Pernell Cummings (left) hands over the refridgerator to Abigail McDonald in support of the GASP’s raffle. At centre is Leon Belony of the scrabble association.

And yesterday corporate giant Courts Inc. jumped on the bandwagon to support the scrabble association’s raffle which will be staged next month. A small refridgerator was donated by the company as one of the raffle prizes which is the association’s way of assisting itself in the process.

A few scrabble players were present including McDonald to receive the refridgerator on behalf of the association. Speaking with Stabroek Sport after the presentation Mc Donald stated that she had not played scrabble competitively for a short while but was confident that the next two months will be spent getting back into the groove of things.

She mentioned how impressed she was by the response from business places stating that this was the most support the association had received in terms of finance.

Manager at Demerara Fire and General Insurance Juanita Allen hands over a cheque of an undisclosed sum to executive member of the Guyana Association of Scrabble Players (GASP) Leon Belony
Manager at Demerara Fire and General Insurance Juanita Allen hands over a cheque of an undisclosed sum to executive member of the Guyana Association of Scrabble Players (GASP) Leon Belony

“I’m extremely encouraged by the response GASP has received after requests for funding. As you know sponsorship for sport in Guyana is a major hurdle but right now I’m happy.

I can see based on where we’re at right now we’ll meet our target.

“I am at ease and I’m not burdened by the issues with money. I hope in the same way they came forward for GASP we can get the public to support the raffle.”

McDonald added that she will take part in tomorrow’s scrabble competition as part of her preparations for the World Championships.