CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY

Colina continues to nurture the key community initiatives that it has held near and dear over the years. In addition to supporting the spontaneous requests of local charities in various efforts, Colina has decided to focus its main community-building initiatives in three key areas: health, the environment, and education.

Red Ribbon and Red Rose Gala Balls (HIV/AIDS Awareness)

Through the creation of the Red Ribbon Ball and Red Rose Ball (held annually in Nassau and Freeport, respectively) Colina has helped the AIDS Foundation of The Bahamas and the Grand Bahama AIDS Awareness Committee to increase awareness of the disease and initiate outreach programmes for education, prevention and treatment. In 2005, Colina received regional recognition from the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC) as an example of the positive impact the corporate sector can have when teaming up with the efforts of Non-Governmental Organizations such as the AIDS Foundation of The Bahamas.

Bahamas National Trust

Colina has teamed up with the Bahamas National Trust (BNT) to provide a grant which will assist the Trust in launching a key educational programme for Bahamian school children. Lynn Gape, Deputy Executive Director and Director of Education at the BNT says such long term initiatives are sometimes difficult to gain support for due to their nature. "Whenever we encounter a company like Colina which is willing to share our vision for affecting real long term change, we are very thankful." says Mrs. Gape. "Colina's approach is rare and we truly value their partnership. They understand that some of our community's issues cannot be approached with a 'quick fix' mentality. If we are going to be good and effective stewards for our children, we have to protect what we have today and instill the same respect and appreciation in them so that they can do the same tomorrow."

Colina InnoWorks Bahamas Science & Mathematics Summer Camp

The notion of setting strategy with the long range in view is a part of the Colina philosophy in its approach to supporting education in The Bahamas. Realizing the need for creating more interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects, Colina embarked on an ambitious initiative to do just that. "Adventures in Science and Mathematics" is a groundbreaking experience aimed at students from junior high to high school. Its signature project is the InnoWorks camp, for which Colina is the title sponsor.