Emerald Gems will donate 400 turkeys for Christmas in the U.S. Virgin Islands

ST. THOMAS, ST. CROIX, and ST. JOHN U.S.V.I. (Dec 15, 2020) – Emerald Gems Foundation, Inc., founders  Milt and Shalaun Newton will donate 400 turkeys to be distributed in the U.S. Virgin Islands (Details below). Milt is also a native of St. Thomas and Assistant General Manager of the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks. Emerald Gems has partnered with the Office of Senator Athneil “Bobby” Thomas for their Christmas Turkey Giveaway. 

Additional  partners  in  funding  the  effort  include,  The  Market  St.  Thomas  and  Ade  Richards  of  A&R  Transportation, while logistical assistance is being provided by Delvin Duggins with the Office of Senator Bobby Thomas.

“Shalaun and I are grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve the youth of the U.S. Virgin Islands and to give back to the territory. This past summer would have been Emerald Gems 6th Annual U.S.V.I. Youth Basketball Camps, but we were unable to conduct them due to the pandemic. Fortunately, prior to the pandemic, we were able to donate 150 basketballs in-­‐person to the public schools in St. Croix and St. Thomas this past January. Since we are always looking for ways where we can continue to serve our youth and the territory and given that so many are struggling during this unprecedented time, we are hosting our first Emerald Gems Foundation, Inc. Christmas Turkey Giveaway.”

“We greatly appreciate the entities and individuals in St. Thomas and St. Croix who assist us with our community service efforts, including our Emerald  Gems  Foundation,  Inc. Christmas Turkey Giveaway. We would not be able to accomplish these acts of giving without their support,” Newton added. 

“2020 has been a difficult year for many families dealing with the hardship of the pandemic,” said Senator Bobby Thomas. “I am pleased to join Emerald Gems Foundation, Inc. as we make the holidays a little brighter for some families throughout the territory by having this turkey giveaway.”

For the past five years, Emerald Gems has conducted Annual U.S.V.I. Youth Basketball Camps at Ivanna Eudora Kean  High  School  each  August.   Every  year,  nearly  100  campers  ages  8-­‐17  attend  and  are  trained  by  current  NBA personnel. Campers have also received basketball shoes, jerseys, shorts, socks, basketballs and backpacks. The annual basketball camp is provided free of charge to all who participate.

In  the  future,  Emerald  Gems  has  plans  to  be  instrumental  in  revitalizing  selected  U.S.V.I.  recreational  parks,  starting with the Milton M. Newton Recreational Park, and launching the first NBA Math Hoops Program (www.nbamathhoops.org) in  the  U.S.V.I. Emerald  Gems  will  also  offer  their  second  Education  &  Basketball Enrichment Program Trip for a selected group of U.S.V.I. high school student athletes to travel to the States to learn about running a NBA franchise.

EMERALD GEMS CHRISTMAS TURKEY GIVEAWAY DETAILS

Individuals and/or families must have a ticket to receive a turkey. Various non-­profit organizations in St. Thomas and St. John will distribute the tickets through their community outreach programs. A full list of the participating non-profits are listed below:

2020 Emerald Gems Foundation, Inc. Christmas Turkey Giveaway Participating Non-Profits Organizations
(The participating organizations will receive the tickets for the turkey on Wednesday, 12/16th)

Organizations Phone Number Contact Person(s) Serves
My Brother’s Workshop 340-715-2769 Nakeba Stewart St. Thomas
Frederick Lutheran Church 340-776-1315 Pastor Merle Malone and Ms. Forbes St. Thomas
Memorial Moravian Church 340-776-0066 Pastor Cortroy Jarvis and Ms. Lewis St. Thomas
Holy Family Church 340-775-1650 Allison Callwood St. Thomas 
USVI American Red Cross 340-774-0375 Patricia Swan St. Thomas
Catholic Charities Virgin Islands 340-777-8518 Andrea Schillingford St. John and St. Thomas
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church 340-776-6339 Simonia Dagou St. John 

 

 

In addition to a turkey, they will receive one or two Emerald Gems face masks and a note from the founders Milt and Shalaun Newton. 

TURKEY PICK-UP LOCATIONS:

For Cruz Bay, St. John (100 Turkeys):
Date:  Sunday, December 20, 2020
Time:  11-1pm AST
Location:  Bureau Motor Vehicles Parking Lot

For St. Thomas (300 Turkeys):
Date: Sunday, December 20, 2020
Time:  3-5pm AST
Location:  Fort Christian Parking Lot

 

For questions about the turkey distribution, please contact the Office of Senator Bobby Thomas at 340-693-3515.

For general questions, please contact Emerald Gems Foundation, Inc. Co-Founder Shalaun Newton at 908-500-2991 or emeraldgemsfoundation@gmail.com.

 

About Emerald Gems Foundation, Inc.

Emerald Gems Foundation, Inc. is a 501c3 non-profit, founded in 2015 by St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. native Milt Newton, and his wife Shalaun.  Since its inception, the organization has served nearly 450 U.S. Virgin Islands children through our Annual Youth Basketball Camps, Education and Basketball Enrichment Program, as well as our Coaching Seminars. 

Our mission is to enhance the lives of the youth in the U.S. Virgin Islands by providing positive experiences and life-long learning opportunities utilizing basketball as a means.  

For more information, please contact us today.