Diamonds International, one of the newest stores in Anguilla and located at the Tomac Plaza at the Water Swamp, has donated US$1,000 to the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, as part of its support for the development of jazz music there.

L-R: Mr. Winegar, Mrs. Ethne Richardson and Fitzroy Tomlinson

Manager of the family-owned store, one of many branches in the Caribbean, Gregory Winegar, made available two pieces of jewellery to raffle during the Jazz Festival. The arrangement was made with the Anguilla Tourist Board as one of the ways in which Diamonds International could contribute to the school’s summer jazz programme.

Festivals Coordinator, Fitzroy Tomlinson, told reporters on Tuesday, November 20, that the raffle was a success and a good way to help the school’s music department. He noted that the students had caught on well to the new type of music now being used to woo tourists to Anguilla at the start of the season.

Speaking at his store, Mr. Winegar, a Gemologist originally from California and living in the Caribbean for the past two years, said his company was very happy to have been involved in the Jazz Festival and to have sold raffle tickets at US$25 each for the donation.

“We ended coming up with a grand total of $1,000 to donate to the school. The response was very good,” he said. “In addition to the raffle tickets we had people just donating money outright which was very nice to see. We have plans to become much more involved next year and to have more time to plan for it.”

Mr. Winegar presented the cheque to Deputy Principal Ethne Richardson who thanked Diamonds International on behalf of the school for sponsoring the raffle. She assured Mr. Winegar that the money would be used for the teaching and learning of music.

The raffled tickets were won by Pat Petrilak who received a half karat diamond ring and Lynne Bernbaum who collected a one karat bracelet.

Mr. Winegar added that Diamonds International had some very high hopes of providing musical instruments for students who might not have the means to procure them or assisting them in other areas of need.

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