Over a dozen U.S. Virgin Islands’ student members of the not-for-profit Marine Vocational Program (MVP) can now continue and advance their marine education thanks to a donation of $15,000 from the NYC Eastern Caribbean Relief Fund, Inc., founded and funded by Island Capital Group, LLC. and Island Global Yachting, Ltd. (IGY). Specifically, this generous donation will enable MVP students to obtain their basic PADI dive certification. The impetus for the donation came when MVP founder Jimmy Loveland’s son Marc sat next to IGY’s CEO Tom Mukamal on a plane flight and the two talked. Mukamal is familiar with St. Thomas as IGY manages both Yacht Haven Grande and American Yacht Harbor marinas.
“Tom wanted to reach out to Jimmy, and especially the children. by donating to the Marine Vocational Program,” says Beth DiDomenico, general manager of IGY’s American Yacht Harbor.
Island Capital Group, LLC. and Island Global Yachting, Ltd., along with the organization’s investors, friends, customers and partners compassionately created the NYC Eastern Caribbean Relief Fund for the explicit purpose of aiding in the recovery, relief and humanitarian needs of those living in the Eastern Caribbean following profound devastation caused by hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017.
The MVP Program, started in 2007, operates to serve as a vocational institution that provides U.S. Virgin Islands youth with a career path into the marine/hospitality/tourism industries. www.igymarinas.com,
