On October 3, 2009, Shakti Mind Body Fitness in partnership with Ocean Spray Wata, join forces with the Shaggy “Make a Difference” Foundation to raise funds for the Bustamante Hospital for Children through the inaugural Shakti Love Fest - a Yoga, Spinning Fitness and Music Charity Festival that will be held at the Terra Nova Hotel in Kingston.
100 per cent of the proceeds from this Shakti Love Fest will go to the Shaggy “Make a Difference” Foundation which was established by international, Grammy Award Winning Reggae artiste, to raise funds for the Bustamante Hospital for Children, the only full service Hospital in the Caribbean dedicated to Children.
The Shaggy Foundation has already donated US$270, 000.00 worth of equipment to the hospital from proceeds raised at its concert in January, but the hospital is still in need of continued assistance, as the Shaggy Foundation's mission is to convert the Bustmante Hospital for Children into a first-world facility. The goal of Shakti Love Fest is to keep the momentum of Shaggy's first event, raising more money for this great cause.
Event Format
Shakti Love Fest is an all day festival starting at sunrise and ending at sunset. The event will have a “back to the 60’s" theme - when love was king and life was beautiful! Prime Minister, the Honourable Bruce Golding, will speak at the event opening at 9.30 a.m.
The festival will take place on the grounds of the Terra Nova Hotel and in four conference rooms which will be used for Yoga, Spinning, Fitness and Motivational Speakers. Classes will be running simultaneously, back-to-back in each room, allowing for an incredible offering of 40 classes in one day. Wellness-related and inspirational presentations will also be held by the hotel's poolside, along with a live music show in the evening. Shaggy will be joined on stage by Taurus Riley, Rootz Underground and other acts to be confirmed.
The event has garnered incredible international support as yoga and spinning master instructors from as far as Australia and South Africa are confirmed for the event, and are donating their time free of cost. Several US-based motivational speakers are also confirmed, including Dr. Alejandro Junger, the author of Clean, an international bestselling book on detoxification and weight loss, with a celebrity following including actresses Gwenyth Paltrow and Demi Moore.
Booths will be set up selling yoga wear, aromatherapy, massage, spa treatments, eco-friendly products, and more… all in line with the event's “back to the 60”s” theme. Patrons will also be privy to exclusive giveaway bags, packed with top of the line sponsor items, also in line with the day's theme.
Shakti Love Fest Sponsors
Event Director, Sharon McConnell-Feanny, who owns Shakti Mind Body Fitness, aims to grow Shakti Love Fest to an annual calendar event which will tap into the wellness-tourism market. Overseas patrons have already been booked, arriving from other Caribbean islands, South America, the US and UK.
Shakti Love Fest has been greatly supported by Corporate Jamaica thus far, with Wisynco taking title sponsorship through their Ocean Spray Wata brand, Scotiabank, LIME, Air Jamaica, Appliance Traders, Tru Juice, Pan Caribbean and Sagicor as other major sponsors. Other corporate players have contributed their support through cash and in-kind donations.
