As a service to local communities in the Caribbean, in 1993 the Caribbean Cable and Telecommunications Association (CCTA) established the Community Charities Programme to assist charitable organizations nominated by the association’s Active Members or cable operators. During its existence, this programme has funded more than 130 human and humane service charities by giving over $292,000 in grants.

Through the generosity of the CCTA Special Olympics Cayman Islands (SOCI) is the recipient of a $1,000 grant from the association’s 2014 Community Charities Program. SOCI was nominated for the grant by local telecommunications provider WestStar, a member of the association, which said Special Olympics was chosen as a grant recipient because of the outstanding service and assistance it provides to the community. WestStar recently made a check presentation with sales and promotions coordinator Lisa Burke and local athletes Kanza Bodden and Cindy Whittaker on hand.

In 2014, 12 charities were selected to receive $1,000 grants. They cover a host of services across a wide geographical area, from Bermuda in the north to Curacao in the south. The following is a list of the 2014 grant recipients and those cable operators that nominated them:

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bermuda nominated by Bermuda Cablevision Ltd.

Bregado Flax Primary School nominated by BVI Cable TV

Go Gogo Foundation Corp. nominated by Choice Cable TV of Puerto Rico

Clarendon Infirmary nominated by General Satelite Network Company Limited

Queen Louise Home nominated by Innovative Cable TV St. Croix

Nana Baby Children’s Home, Inc. nominated by Innovative Cable TV St. Thomas-St. John

Colegio de Educacion Especial y Rehabilitacion Integral nominated by Liberty Cablevision of Puerto Rico

St. Maarten Animal Welfare Foundation nominated by St. Maarten Cable TV

Warriors for Christ Pathfinder Club nominated by The Cable

Fundashon Pro Bista nominated by T.V. Distribution Systems N.V.

Special Olympics Cayman Islands nominated by Weststar TV Limited

Home Away From Home nominated by Wireless Telecommunication Network

Formed in 1983, the association represents cable and telecommunications providers throughout the Caribbean, and the programmers, software and hardware suppliers that support their operations.