March 11, 2009 – More than 300 employees of Novo Nordisk, a Danish pharmaceutical company, who will be visiting St. Thomas aboard the Liberty of the Seas cruise ship on Wednesday, will take part in a large-scale community service effort that targets aesthetics and maintenance at nine public schools in the St. Thomas-St. John district to include: painting, landscaping, debris removal, repairs, construction and assembly. One of the groups will also visit a class and read to students.
St. Thomas-St. John District Deputy Superintendent Joseph Sibilly said, "The district is extremely pleased by the great fortune of being the recipient of this community service effort. Since the idea was brought to us, we have been in constant contact with Novo Nordisk and Ms. July Nagelberg, working closely with them to make this effort a reality and a success for both parties. We have organized teams from the district that comprise of school representatives and the Maintenance Division, who will be overseeing and assisting with the projects throughout the course of the day." He said that the group also purchased equipment and materials to complete the jobs, all of which will be donated to the Maintenance Division following the completion of the service.
The schools that will benefit are: Lockhart, Yvonne Milliner-Bowsky, E. Benjamin Oliver, Joseph Gomez and Joseph Sibilly Elementary, Addelita Cancryn Junior High and Bertha C. Boschulte Middle Schools, and the Charlotte Amalie H.S. and Ivanna Eudora Kean H.S.