Weeks ago Deliha Ming was worried about paying for college.
She worked two jobs and put in long hours during the work week with a dream of getting tertiary education. Thanks to the Cayman Islands Little League, Ming can now ease her way into college life.
Ming claimed $20,000 as the top prize winner for the group’s 2011 raffle. Her winning ticket was sold by Karyl Miller, who received a free Cayman Airways flight to any destination. Ming states the winnings came just in time.
“I kept thinking I only wanted help for college,” Ming said. “I didn’t have enough money to do the Business Administration degree at the University College of the Cayman Islands. I had been working a nine-to-five job and doing overtime work. Yet I couldn’t see where the money would come from to do the course.
“I’m so excited to win. It’s a blessing and I thank God for this.”
Ming was one of seven winners in the competition. Iris Zelaya nabbed the other big reward, taking home $5,000 as the runner-up. Five people earned the third place prize of $1,000 in Lana Cranston, Abygale DaCosta, Denny Hydes, Yuvani Medina and Frank Schilling. Interestingly Schilling donated his winnings back to little league.
A brief cheque presentation was held last week for the winners. On hand for that was little league president Jim Parham and facilities manager Al Lovinggood. With proceeds from the raffle going towards repaying the loan on the Field of Dreams baseball facility in George Town, Lovinggood states it is a win-win situation.
“We were all happy that they won,” Lovinggood said. “I’m personally excited that someone that could use the money won the big prize. Deliha needed it a lot and she was in tears when we told her. It was a happy moment.
“As an organization we got about $6,000 from the raffle. It would have been nice to get a lot more money. But the funds go a long way and we’re grateful for the public’s involvement and support. As the facility manager, I can tell you there’s a lot of work to do. Resurfacing the fields is a big issue for example. But we’re chipping away at the loan and it’s not looming over us like in years past.”
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