BHS To Hold “A Night In Havana” Fundraiser
When the Round Square organisation was founded in the 1960s, based on the teachings of Kurt Hahn,and incorporating the six IDEALS [Internationalism, Democracy, Environment, Adventure, Service and Leadership], it probably was not anticipated that a school in Bermuda would use them when planning a Cuban-themed fundraising dinner dance.
However, that is exactly what is happening this Saturday when BHS holds “A Night in Havana” under the stars on the school field, in an effort to raise $80,000 for the School’s Financial Aid Programme.
Director of Advancement, Jennifer Burland Adams, explains, “We were looking to decorate the tables in a way that added to the festivities and immediately evoked the idea of Cuba in guests’ minds. However, when looking at the traditional idea of cut flowers in an arrangement, we questioned how much sense it made to spend money on flowers that would look great for one night and then end up in the garbage; flowers that would have a large carbon footprint because they would mostly have to be brought into Bermuda.”
According to the Event Chairperson, Jennie Lee O’Donnell, “Suzan Sickling, a BHS alumna and florist kindly designed an arrangement made entirely from fruit and local vegetation, with a few silk hibiscus that BHS uses for their graduation decorations. We loved that idea for its simplicity and authenticity.”
That took care of the carbon footprint of cut flowers, taking into account the environmental impact, but the School went a step further.
“We are very cognizant that there are many in Bermuda who do not have enough to eat, especially healthy, fresh food, so we decided to look for an organisation with whom to partner. We reached out to The Eliza Dolittle Society, to see if they would accept a donation of the fruit after the event, for their Daily Bread programme,” stated Mrs. Burland Adams.
“Then, we approached Daily Bread sponsors Miles Market and Butterfield & Vallis, to see if they would donate the fruit we needed for the arrangements. Essentially, we are just borrowing the fruit for two days before it goes to Daily Bread recipients. Miles and Butterfield & Vallis were eager to help out.”
Which takes care of another IDEAL, Service, or thinking of others, which is really what the whole event is about anyway. As has already been reported, families are struggling to keep up with tuition payments at local private schools, and BHS is no exception. The number of families at risk of not returning next year is high, and the School said they are committed to doing everything it can to keep these students enrolled.
Head of School, Linda Parker, together with the PTA, Teachers’ Association and others have been working hard to find new ways to increase the amount available to keep BHS families at BHS. “We have reached out to companies and interested individuals to ask them to ‘Sponsor a Student’ through their BHS education, with a monetary commitment for each of their remaining years.
“The Teacher’s Association recently raised over $5000 at their golf tournament for bursaries and the PTA will be holding a uniform swap in a few weeks. In addition, a few teachers in the Science Department have planned a Trash-a-Thon on June 23 and 24 when students will not only help clean up Bermuda, but can choose to donate the money to the School’s Financial Aid Programme. However, the largest event of the year is this Saturday’s A Night in Havana.”
With a cocktail hour featuring Cuban drinks and canapés, a three-course Cuban meal, Latin dancing and a top-secret performance by administrators at the school, in addition to a Silent Auction which includes two tickets to London on British Airways, a weekend in Boston, a cocktail cruise on Uber Vida and much more, A Night in Havana promises to be not only a fun-filled night, but also a night which shows why BHS is the only Round Square school in Bermuda; a night when guests think of helping those around them, both people and the environment.
A Night in Havana tickets are available on the BHS website or by calling 278.3004, and for those who cannot make the event, but would like to preview and place an absentee bid for the Silent Auction, they can do so here on the BHS website.
Read More About
Category: All, Entertainment
