May 24, 2005 – Main Street St. Thomas will come alive with bands, cultural activities and lots of food on Memorial Day when the Tom Joyner Foundation's "Fantastic Voyage" cruises into St. Thomas.
The University of the Virgin Islands, the V.I. Department of Tourism and the Tom Joyner Foundation have partnered to present Shop be-Cause, a day-long Main Street shopping event in support of the University of the Virgin Islands.
"We're happy to welcome Tom Joyner back to the territory in support of the University of the Virgin Islands," said Joseph Boschulte, UVI's vice president for Institutional Advancement. "Mr. Joyner's commitment to education is well known, and UVI's designation as a Tom Joyner Foundation school was directly responsible for UVI's having raised more than $200,000 in scholarships when it was the HBCU of the Month three years ago," Buschulte added.
The Tom Joyner Foundation provides money directly to Historically Black Colleges and Universities for the purpose of helping students complete their education. UVI was designated an HBCU in 1986.
On Monday, May 30, more than 3,000 passengers are expected to disembark from the Tom Joyner Foundation's "Fantastic Voyage" on board Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's Adventure of the Seas. Joyner is expected to make a presentation to UVI on Main Street at noon.
Main Street businesses are participating in the "Shop be-Cause" event by offering special discounts from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Memorial Day. A percentage of retail sales will be donated to UVI.
A taste bazaar will feature mouth-watering delicacies, a youth art gallery will showcase local talent, and there will be arts, crafts, bands and lots of dancing.
UVI paraphernalia will be sold, including a special commemorative T-shirt featuring the artwork of Caribbean artist Rosine Smith. Smith's work captures the lifestyle of Caribbean people as they worked, played and prayed during the 1950s.
The nationally syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show is broadcast weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m. on WWKS-FM, KISS 101.3
For further information on the Shop be-Cause event, call the UVI Public Relations Office at 693-1058.
