Christopher Levy (third left), president and CEO of the Jamaica Broilers Group, presents a sponsorship cheque to Marva Bernard (right), president, Jamaica Netball Association, at a function yesterday at the Jamaica Broilers Group office at McCook's Pen to announce a $20.6 million sponsorship of the Sunshine Girls. Participating in the presentation are (from left) Anna-Kay Griffiths, Sunshine Girl and employee of Jamaica Broilers; Nadine Bryan, Sunshine Girls captain; David Mair (partly hidden), vice-president Best Dressed Chicken operations, Cordia Panton-Williams, brand manager, Best Dressed Chicken and Oliver Mair, sales and marketing manager, Best Dressed Chicken. - Leighton Levy

$20.6m Best Dressed deal for Sunshine Girls

Robert Bailey, Star Writer

With less than a week to go before the departure of the Sunshine Girls for the World Netball Championships (WNC) in Singapore, the Jamaica Netball Association (JNA) received a major boost when Jamaica Broilers Group (JBG), through its brand Best Dressed Chicken, signed on to a four-year $20.6 million sponsorship deal.

Christopher Levy, president and chief executive officer of JBG, handed his company's cheque to Marva Bernard, president of the JNA, during a press conference at their headquarters at McCook's Pen in St Catherine yesterday.

As part of the deal, the JNA will receive $18.6 in cash, and another $2 million in product support. Levy said the sponsorship marks a significant achievement for his company.

"A historic day for the group and its flagship Best Dressed Chicken brand, a day which saw the group being able to announce its single largest contribution to any one sport in 53 years of Jamaica Broilers' existence," said Levy.

"In fact, our group has long recognised sports as an effective tool in human resource development and continue to encourage our employees to get involved in a number of sports competitions as one practical way of team building and camaraderie, while also helping them to remain physically fit," Levy said.

He added: "It is therefore particularly gratifying that a member of the Jamaica Broilers Business House netball team, Ann-Kay Griffiths, is also a member of the Jamaica national netball team."

Bernard was very elated for the sponsorship. "I am overwhelmed, I am joyful, I am grateful and I am thankful to Best Dressed Chicken," said Bernard with a broad smile.

"This is a dream come true for the things that they have planned for us, they have worked very hard to get this support that we so badly need to take us to Singapore and beyond," she said.

In addition to their sponsorship, the JBG will be hosting a send-off road show for the Sunshine Girls on the day of their departure to the Donald Sangster International Airport on Sunday, June 26. The road show is scheduled to begin at the Mandela Park in Half-Way Tree starting at 8:30 a.m with a praise and worship ceremony featuring DJ Nicholas.

There will also be a number of other stops along their journey, which includes one at the Ewarton playing field at 11:05 a.m which is home town of Sunshine Girl Malysha Kelly. There will also be another at Priory Beach, where a mini-concert will be held, featuring Prodigal and Voicemail.