Eight years ago, nine past South Florida based students of Calabar High School in Jamaica, thought it would be fitting to give back to their alma mater, one of Jamaica’s leading secondary institutions.
They formed Sons of Rabalac (Calabar in reverse) which has organized a number of fundraising events to assist financially-challenged students, as well as the school’s sports program.
Their latest initiative is the Green and Black 7th Anniversary, which takes place June 15 at Karu nightclub in Fort Lauderdale.
Mohinder Nathan is a co-founder of Sons of Rabalac, and the only member who never represented Calabar at football. He stated that their goals are being realized with the support of the Calabar Old Boys Association and past students in the Diaspora.
“The organization’s objectives are being met. Our first scholarship awardee is currently in his second year at the University of the West Indies. Meeting our objectives year over year created an opportunity to lend support to the School Challenge Quiz Team and the basketball team from time to time,” Nathan said.
His colleagues in Sons of Rabalac are:
Geddes Alexander- (1985 – 1992)
Dave Green- (1988 – 1992)
Leroy Harding- (1983 – 1988)
Everton Jackson- (1986 – 1991)
Ronald Jackson- (1983 – 1990)
Orville Murphy- (1984 – 1991)
Gareth Phillips- 1989 – 1994
Ralston Phillips- 1985 – 1991
Nathan attended Calabar High from 1988 to 1992. He and his colleagues, like most students there, are from working or middle-class backgrounds; several struggle to complete their term, hence their decision to reach out.
“The organization was established to specifically provide scholarships to young men attending Calabar whose parents were experiencing difficulty with financing their secondary education. The group also saw the need to support the schools football program through an annual series of fundraising activities such as the Alumni Football Game held on the
Sunday immediately after Boys and Girls Athletic Championships, the Florida Football Tournament and the Green and Black Party in Florida.
The proceeds from these events provided football equipment, financed extra lessons and the scholarship program,” Nathan disclosed.
In the years since Sons of Rabalac launched, Calabar have had impressive returns in sports and academics. They won the Boys Athletic Championships from 2012-18 and have performed consistently well in the Schools Challenge Quiz, Jamaica’s team version of Jeopardy.
Next month’s event in Fort Lauderdale continues Sons of Rabalac’s benevolent projects.
“We have held three-four events yearly both in Jamaica and the US, which is approximately a total of 24 events since launching. We have raised in excess of $4 million dollars (JMD) with 100 per cent of all proceeds from each event benefitting Calabar High School,” Nathan disclosed. “We believe an educational institution must provide for the development of the whole person, academically, spiritually and athletically.”
Former Jamaica prime minister P.J. Patterson and legendary quarter-miler and Olympian Herb McKenley are past students of Calabar High School.
