Category: Jamaica Star Newspaper

Corporate Jamaica scouts Tanto Blacks

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Dancehall artiste Tanto Blacks says the law of attraction played a role in J.Wray and Nephew’s decision to sign him as the face of their ‘Q is the Key to Cash 4 Life’ competition that ends this month.

According to energetic entertainer, belief in one’s self can take a person a far way.

“I believe anything that you talk into the universe, it will happen in reality if you believe in it. I wasn’t surprised because I know everything was going to come to me. Even when I went for my US visa, I never was fretting,” he said.

Tanto Blacks also disclosed that following J. Wray and Nephew’s signing he has been approached by several other corporate brands for brand ambassador duties.

Brand Ambassador

“A lot of brands were sleeping on me, but Wray and Nephew open their eyes. So, now all of them see me as a potential brand ambassador. The journey was good and nuff brand a call me now. It was also a good feeling to go in pharmacies and stores and see posters with my face on it. I was also happy to see my face on the Billboard in Half-Way Tree and Montego Bay,” he said.

Tanto Blacks will also make his acting debut this year in a Jamaican film titled True Billionaire. His debut EP will also be released bearing the same title.

“This year, everything wi seh will be billionaire because we pass millionaire status now,” he told THE STAR.

Source: http://jamaica-star.com/article/entertainment/20170128/corporate-jamaica-scouts-tanto-blacks

St Mary Tech excited after computer donation

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St Mary Technical High School suffered a devastating blow in June 2016, when its library was razed by a fire.

The school’s need was realised when staff members of Digicel nominated the school to be the beneficiary of a set of computers under the Digicel Foundation’s Get Gifted Campaign.

“You came to our rescue. We suffered a major fire which destroyed everything in our library last year; our books, computers, chairs and desks. This gift from Digicel Foundation is a dream come true because we have written so many letters to a number of corporate companies with no response,” said Glascine McCormack-Lazarus, principal of the school.

Sannejah Henderson, head boy, said, “I know these computers will be very useful as students have to be typing their school-based assessments and trying to carry out research with limited access to a computer or Internet. This is will have such a positive impact for all of us. We are really excited.”

SHARING A COMPUTER

Since the fire, students preparing to sit CSEC examinations in information technology and electronic document preparation and Management have had to share the use of one computer in the library if they did not have a personal computer at home.

Heather Moyston, board director of the foundation, last week led a team to St Mary Technical and surprised the school with the donation of four brand new desktop computers.

“This school has been serving the parish with distinction for over half a century. It is an honour for our team to partner with the staff and students of St Mary Technical High to build on their foundation of excellence,” she said.

Source: http://jamaica-star.com/article/news/20170121/st-mary-tech-excited-after-computer-donation

Twins Excelling Despite Difficulties

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Despite being diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and Cognitive Impairment, exceptional twin sisters Shantoi and Samoi Miller, all of seven years old, are outstanding and inspiring students and the celebrated shining stars at the Early Stimulation Programme (ESP) Centre of Excellence.

At this young age, the two girls have faced severe odds, overcome several major health and development obstacles, and are now beacons of hope, showing the value of the early stimulation in the lives of children with special needs.

Enrolled at the stimulation centre over the last three years, their teachers Aunties Melissa Robinson and Norma-Jean Powell quickly realised that the girls needed extra attention to develop their skills and talents.

Issues such as forgetting letters and numerals, not being able to keep up in class, and refusing to eat plagued the girls’ development.

But help was on the way, as Digicel Foundation stepped in and provided critical funding under a programme designed to assist children like Shantoi and Samoi.

The poundation, having assisted some 34,000 persons with special needs since its inception, saw the Early Stimulation Programme as a right fit for the organisation’s input.

The school was able to move into a newly renovated environment with additional tools for intervention. The teachers were more motivated to deliver better results for each child, and the twin girls went from being shy and reserved to outspoken and ready to face new adventures.

Their excitement about going to school could not be contained and they developed a level of confidence that made them no longer worried about what people had to say about their special needs.

At the end of their programme, they were both chosen as valedictorians for their graduating class.

Digicel Foundation chairman Jean Lowrie-Chin, in celebrating the achievement of the twin girls, believes that there are many other children like Shantoi and Samoi who can benefit from the efforts of the organisation.

“It really warms my heart when we are able to help, and to see how lives can be changed because of our partnerships.” Lowrie-Chin said.

Shantoi and Samoi are inspiring classmates, parents, teachers and partners with their contagious warmth and can-do attitude towards life.

The ESP Centre of Excellence is among 45 special-needs projects benefitting from some US$11 million in funding from the Digicel Foundation.

http://jamaica-star.com/article/news/20170109/twins-excelling-despite-difficulties

PM Lauds Corporate Volunteers

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has hailed the outstanding philanthropic contributions of corporate entities that have served to engender a culture of volunteerism locally.

He said the Government appreciates the contributions by private and public-sector entities and is working to further stimulate and encourage volunteerism in the country.

“As a nation, when we all practise volunteerism, the country benefits,” he said.

The prime minister was giving the keynote address at the Council of Voluntary Social Services (CVSS) 2016 National Volunteer Awards Banquet held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston last Thursday.

He congratulated the six awardees at the event, which was held under the theme, ‘Volunteerism as a Catalyst for National Development’.

Volunteerism

The Private Sector Award for Outstanding Volunteerism went to the Wisynco Group; Digicel Foundation received the Non-Profit Organisation for Outstanding Volunteerism Award, while the CVSS Member Agency of the Year Award went to the Jamaica 4-H Clubs.

Justice of the peace and president of the Kiwanis Club of Junction, St Elizabeth, Alethia Peart, received the Marion Ballysingh Award for Outstanding Volunteerism.

The Young Leader Award was presented to 24-year-old Portmore youth leader Neville Charlton.

Former Lasco Top Cop, Nadine Grant-Brown, who founded the programme Eve for Change, received the Public Sector Volunteer of the Year Award.

The highlight of the awards banquet was the induction of international recording artiste and philanthropist Orville ‘Shaggy’ Burrell into the CVSS Hall of Fame.

Burrell is the founder of the Shaggy Make A Difference Foundation, through which he is a supporter of the Bustamante Hospital for Children. The foundation has raised more than $255 million to acquire some 1,000 pieces of medical equipment used to treat more than 77,000 children each year.

http://jamaica-star.com/article/news/20161214/pm-lauds-corporate-volunteers