(Hamilton, Bermuda - August 13, 2009) - Bermuda CableVision awards its latest Community Service Award to Tori Smith, a 16-year old student at The Berkeley Institute, for the commitment she has shown to a number of local charities and voluntary organisations. Miss Smith, the youngest ever recipient of the award, was honoured today at an event held at BUEI, attended by the acting Minister of Education, the Hon. Senator Kim N. Wilson JP; Minister of Energy, Telecommunications and E-Commerce, the Hon. Michael Scott, JP, MP and Minister of Culture and Social Rehabilitation, the Hon. Neletha Butterfield, MBE, JP, MP.

Miss Smith devotes as much as 40 hours each month to various good causes. At school she tutors young pupils in mathematics and science and regularly performs in plays and dance productions to raise money for charity. She was also part of the organising committee for a non-uniform day, which raised over $200 for new books in the student library.

Miss Smith volunteers at the Hamilton Community Centre, where she is Chair of the Youth Representative Committee. The committee has been developing a programme to engage more young people in the youth centre and its activities. Miss Smith has recently led the committee in organising Wetfest, a dance, music, fashion and comedy fundraising event for young people.

Miss Smith, a Bermudian, first volunteered at the age of 13 in St. Lucia, home to her mother. She spent time there working at an orphanage where she developed a love of working with younger children. On her return to Bermuda a year later, Miss Smith continued to offer support to community initiatives such as the Sleepy Hollow Fair and the Continental Society of Bermuda by helping out at events and public collection days.

“:My Mom arranged for me to volunteer when I was 13 years old before I even knew what community service was,” explains Miss Smith. “:I really enjoyed helping people and working with children, which is why I decided to carry on volunteering myself. Sometimes, I only have one evening a week free because I support so many causes but I don't mind because I really enjoy what I'm doing.”

Acting Minister of Education, the Hon. Senator Kim N. Wilson JP, said: “:Tori is an excellent representative for young people and sets a great example for fellow students to follow. The help she provides to the students she tutors is invaluable. It is admirable that she wants others to be successful in their studies, while maintaining her own, busy, study schedule.”

Minister of Energy, Telecommunications and E-Commerce, the Hon. Michael Scott, JP, MP, congratulates Miss Smith on receiving the Community Service Award: “:I am really impressed by Tori's positive attitude towards helping other people. She gives a great deal of her own time willingly and expects nothing in return. For that she fully deserves to be honoured by this award.”

Minister of Culture and Social Rehabilitation, the Hon. Neletha Butterfield, MBE, JP, MP, added: “:It is heart-warming to hear about the work that Tori is doing for our community. For someone of her tender age to be devoting so much time to community service is truly commendable and I wish her much success in the future.”

Terry Roberson, General Manager of Bermuda CableVision, says: “:We are delighted to present this Community Service Award to a young person who is doing so much to support good causes. Tori is the youngest recipient in the history of the CableVision Community Service Award and for that she stands as a true inspiration to us all.”

Miss Smith hopes to pursue a career in insurance underwriting when she completes her education. In honour of Miss Smith, CableVision is making a $1,000 donation to the Hamilton Youth Centre.

Notes to editors:

Bermuda CableVision Community Service Awards

A committee reviews all nominations and selects a winner for the quarterly CableVision Community Service Award. The committee is comprised of CableVision employee Rollin Nathan; DeFontes radio host Shirley Dill; police media manager Dwayne Caines; and community activist Cromwell Shakir.

Bermuda CableVision will present its next Community Service Award in October. The company invites the public to nominate any individual residing in Bermuda who has shown outstanding community service through participation in a school, church or charity organisation, or through their own determination.

Nominations can be emailed to Rollin Nathan at rnathan@cablevision.bm, or mailed to the attention of Rollin Nathan, Bermuda CableVision, P.O. Box 1642, Hamilton, HM GX. For further information, visit www.cablevision.bm.

Elizabeth Tee
Troncossi Public Relations                       
Telephone: 292-5838
E-mail: liz@troncossi.bm