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News | Feb. 11, 2011

NORAD, USNORTHCOM commander visits Bahamian school

By NORAD and USNORTHCOM Public Affairs

NASSAU, The Bahamas - The commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command spoke to students at the Simpson Penn Center for Boys Feb. 9 and donated $3,000 in sports equipment to the rehabilitation center.

The visit was made as part of a two-day visit to the island nation to discuss ongoing bilateral efforts to improve security in the region.

Winnefeld told the boys at the center that even if one makes mistakes, with support and hard work, they can succeed in life. The Simpson Penn Centre is a residential treatment facility for boys between the ages of 10 and 16 remanded by the juvenile court system.

“We really believe in what the Bahamian people are doing here at the Simpson Penn Centre, and we wanted to help,” Winnefeld said. “It’s about building sound minds, sound characters and sound bodies.”

Over the last year, USNORTHCOM and the U.S. Embassy has donated more than $20,000 in school supplies, books and sports equipment as part of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative. Donations have benefited Woodcock Elementary School, the Willie Mae Pratt Center for Girls and the Ministry of Education’s national “Read To Lead” program.