Bolt Signs COJO’s Boots
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| Jamaican
Olympic star, Usain Bolt (centre), points out the finer points
of a pair of Puma running shoes to Chairman of Children of Jamaica
Outreach (COJO), Gary Williams (left), and COJO Executive and
Managing Director of Transcontinental Express Shipping, New York,
Robert DeSouza. The shoes, which were recently signed in Jamaica
by Bolt, will be auctioned by COJO as part of its fundraising
efforts. The sneakers, donated by Puma, are part of a limited
edition produced in commemoration of Bolt's world record of 9.72
seconds clocked at the 2008 Reebok Grand Prix event in New York,
just prior to his amazing performance in August 2008 at the Olympic
Games in Beijing, China. |
2008 Olympic star
Usain Bolt has given a boost to the fund-raising efforts of the New
York-based Children of Jamaica Outreach (COJO), signing three pairs
of sneakers which are to be auctioned.
The sneakers, donated by Puma, are part of a limited edition produced
in commemoration of Bolt’s world record of 9.72 seconds clocked
at the Reebok Grand Prix in 2008, just prior to his amazing performance
in August 2008 in the Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
Gary Williams, Chairman of COJO, a 15-year old non-profit organization
dedicated to improving the health, education and general well being
of underserved children, brought the shoes to Jamaica for signing.
He said that while the shoes were themselves already valuable, “Usain
Bolt’s signature increased their value even more and the money
realized from their sale will go a long way in funding projects in
Jamaica.”
Over the past decade, the volunteer-driven COJO has supported a number
of institutions in Jamaica as well as the United States. Among them
are the Alpha Boys’ Home, Glenhope Place of Safety, Marigold
Child Care Centre and the Musgrave Girls’ Home in Jamaica; and
in New York, the Jamaica Queens YMCA and Leaf of Life.
Each year, the organization hosts a scholarship gala in New York to
raise funds for scholarships to deserving students.
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