Nassau, The Bahamas - To mark their continued relationship of support, AML Foods, through their Solomon’s Fresh Market Brand presented the Bahamas Environmental Steward Scholar program (BESS) with a $5,000 donation. Renea Knowles, Vice President of Marketing and Communications for AML Foods, presented the check to a grateful group of scholarship award recipients and partners, which included Franchesca Bethell and Cristina Roberts 2012 BESS students Trueranda Cox, (BESS alumnae 2010), Garneisha Pinder (BESS alumnae 2010), Charlene Carey, Environmental Educator at BREEF, and Kalin Griffin, Chief of Staff at Cape Eleuthera Island School.  

Solomon’s Fresh Market demonstrates its dedication to fostering environmentally friendly practices and community service through its second year of charitable support of the BESS program. Donations that support BESS scholarship opportunities connect conservation organizations throughout The Bahamas by bridging education and service of young Bahamians in support of a national conservation movement.

“At Solomon’s Fresh Market our mission is to support healthy living and contribute to the community that we live in, while helping to preserve our environment for future generations.  The Island School has a similar pledge and we are proud to be able to once again partner with them and assist the school in their efforts of educating our youth in this most important field” said Renea Knowles, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at AML Foods.

High School graduates, awarded BESS scholarships, spend a GAP year attending the Cape Eleuthera Island School’s semester program. Island School students engage in academic and personal growth while learning critical concepts of environmental research, leadership, community service and global citizenship. BESS students spend the other half of their year in the field serving one of a partnership of Bahamian conservation organizations including the Bahamas Reef Environmental Education Foundation (BREEF), the Bahamas National Trust, The Nature Conservancy, and Friends of the Environment.

"BESS has provided tremendous opportunities for Bahamian students to engage in real life conservation work. Many of our BESS students are engaged in field studies and research of national significance with the Department of Marine Resources, Cape Eleuthera Institute and The Bahamas National Trust which will help us achieve our national conservation goals,” said Charlene Carey, Environmental Educator at BREEF. 

Financial donations from local and private supporters, including AML Foods, will provide BESS scholarships for Jesse Courtemanche from Central Eleuthera High School, Christina Roberts from C.V. Bethel Senior High School, and Franchesca Bethell from Kingsway Academy. In addition to its location out West, Solomon’s Fresh Market will be expanding local impact with the opening of a new store in the Harbour Bay Shopping Center this December.