IGT RECOGNISES CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH WITH A DONATION TO THE JUST BECAUSE FOUNDATION
WEDNESDAY, 14 SEPT 2022: PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: IGT continues to brighten the lives of children with cancer through its annual donation to the “Be Better Bears” programme. This is the third year that IGT has partnered with the Just Because Foundation (JBF) in September to honour Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The programme ensures that every child diagnosed with cancer is gifted a “Be Better Bear” on admittance to the JBF Paediatric Specialty Unit at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope.
This small teddy bear brings comfort during a difficult time as children start their cancer treatment journey. Co-Founder of JBF Chevaughn Joseph said, “one of the new patients on the JBF ward told us her favourite cartoon is Masha and The Bear. She could not stop smiling when she received her own bear companion as she starts treatment for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.”
IGT’s sponsorship of the Be Better Bears programme has enabled JBF to raise funds for other projects and initiatives that give emotional, practical and social support to families of children with cancer. Now that pandemic restrictions have been eased, the foundation is set to revive its in-person support groups and activities for parents and siblings of cancer patients.
IGT’s Country Manager Roger Bolai said, “IGT is proud of its longstanding relationship with JBF and we are committed to consistently engaging in initiatives that assist and bring joy to children. Our support of JBF ties into our corporate philanthropic philosophy and goes back to 2015 when we made our first donation of desktop computers to the JBF Paediatric Specialty Unit. Since then, we have continued to assess and meet its technology needs to help make the children’s hospital stays a little easier.”
Over the years, IGT’s donated technology and computer devices have provided patients with options to access entertainment and complete school work in the most comfortable way possible, whether in bed on a tablet or at a desktop. During the pandemic these devices became a vital lifeline to the outside world when loved ones could not visit and in-person storytelling and craft activities were replaced by virtual ones.
Noel and Chevaughn Joseph founded JBF as a non-profit paediatric cancer support organisation after losing their 5-year-old son Jabez “JB” Joseph to a rare form of childhood cancer. According to the Pan American Health Organisation, 11.4% of all deaths amongst children and adolescents in Trinidad and Tobago are due to cancer. The net survival rate of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), the most common children’s cancer, is 80-89%.
Despite the sobering reality of a childhood disrupted by cancer, Joseph shared the story of another little girl with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on the ward who named her Be Better Bear ‘Faith.’ Joseph said “her favourite colours are purple and pink, she loves dancing and watching Paw Patrol and guess what…she would like to become a doctor when she grows up! These young warriors are ready to fight cancer with their Be Better Bears by their sides to help them keep the faith.”
IGT has been donating technology and equipment to vulnerable children and young people with disabilities in Trinidad and Tobago as part of the IGT After School Advantage (ASA) Programme for over a decade. The IGT ASA Programme is the Company’s flagship philanthropic initiative. The programme complements the gaming technology field in which IGT identifies as a leader and is devoted to providing young people with access to technology in a safe, nurturing afterschool environment.
About IGT Trinidad and Tobago
As the full-service lottery provider to the National Lotteries Control Board (NLCB), IGT manages the distribution, accounting and validation of the Lottery’s instant ticket business. In addition to lottery and instant ticket services, through VIA, a commercial services company, IGT provides prepaid mobile phone top-up and bill payment services over lottery terminals in Trinidad and Tobago.
About IGT:
IGT (NYSE:IGT) is the global leader in gaming. We deliver entertaining and responsible gaming experiences for players across all channels and regulated segments, from Gaming Machines and Lotteries to Sports Betting and Digital. Leveraging a wealth of compelling content, substantial investment in innovation, player insights, operational expertise, and leading-edge technology, our solutions deliver unrivalled gaming experiences that engage players and drive growth. We have a well-established local presence and relationships with governments and regulators in more than 100 countries around the world, and create value by adhering to the highest standards of service, integrity, and responsibility. IGT has approximately 11,000 employees. For more information, please visit www.igt.com.
For the third consecutive year, IGT will donate “Be Better Bears” for the Just Because
Foundation in recognition of September being Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.