On Tuesday, December 13, members of the Caring Committee of the Caribbean Community of Retired Persons (CCRP) visited the Golden Age Home in Kingston where they handed over items of toiletries to the residents of Cluster D which were donated by their members at their Christmas Party held on December 6. Here, Morelene Moncrieffe (left), Supervisor of Cluster D accepts one of the bags with the donations from Hanna Dixon.
CCRP CELEBRATES WITH PRICESMART AT SOVEREIGN CENTRE: Executives from the Caribbean Community of Retired Persons (CCRP) (from left) Donna Singh, Marketing & Development Consultant; Jean Lowrie-Chin, Executive Chair; Denise Eldemire Shearer, Honorary Chair and Dorett Linton, Acting CEO, join with Jodi Lee Oakley (center) of PriceSmart in cutting a celebratory cake at the CCRP Christmas Bazaar at Sovereign Centre in Liguanea, St Andrew on Tuesday, December 20. Through the generosity of the management of Sovereign Centre, members of the seniors’ organisation were invited to display and sell their Jamaican made items at a store in the shopping centre during the Christmas season. The space was provided to CCRP rent and maintenance free.
Here are some highlights from the location.
Christopher Serju, Gleaner Writer
The senior citizens were the ones being feted, gently tapping the desk or rocking to the beat of Christmas carols as they caught up with friends from neighbouring communities at the De La Vega Community Centre in Spanish Town, St Catherine, recently, but Don Wehby was clearly having just as much fun.
“This is the nicest part of my job,” the GraceKennedy Group chief executive officer shared with The Gleaner in-between greeting some of the more than 60 persons who turned out for the annual Christmas treat hosted by the Grace and Staff Community Development Foundation.
Former GraceKennedy employee Desreen Mighty caught Wehby off guard when she proudly showed him two identification cards from her days with the company, having spent 28 years on staff.
GREAT MEMORIES
As she started right out of school, the older of the two cards showed her with an Afro hairstyle and with her maiden name, Allen.
However, she proudly pointed out to Wehby that it had been signed by the late Carlton Alexander, former chairman and chief executive officer of Grace.
The retired 75-year-old described the company as “outstanding” and was quite willing to share stories about her time spent there.
Drawn from March Pen, Lakes Pen, Lime Tree, Quarrie Hill and De La Vega City, the beneficiaries are selected by members of the Grace and Staff Community Development Foundation who work in these communities, and the event is eagerly anticipated, according to Joan Black, treasurer of the De La Vega City Benevolent Society.
“It is always well received,” she disclosed.
All the senior citizens were treated to Grace gift baskets, as well as lively interaction with members of the GraceKennedy Group and the Grace and Staff Community Development Foundation, who combined their singing talents to form a company choir, serving up rousing rounds of carols and Yuletide cheer.
It was obvious that, for the retirees, some of whom had been bussed to the location, it was a welcomed intervention.
Wehby really made their day when he promised that as long as he is head of GraceKennedy Limited, they would always have a Christmas treat. For this, he earned a sustained round of applause.
MONTEGO BAY, St James — FINA Short Course world record holder Alia Atkinson has lauded the assistance from her sponsors Rainforest Seafoods and the Amateur Swimming Association of Jamaica (ASAJ) in helping her reach to the top of word swimming.
At a luncheon held in her honour yesterday at the offices of Rainforest Seafoods in Freeport, Montego Bay, Atkinson, who won three medals at the recent FINA World Short Course Swimming Championships in Windsor, Canada, presented her sponsors with one of her medals from the World Cup held in Doha, Qatar. She told them she would not have been able to accomplish most of her targets this year without their help.
“Swimming was not that big here in Jamaica and I needed the finance, I needed the help,” she admitted. “Not only did it help me reach to meets that I could not reach before, but it made me feel somewhat like I was on the same level playing field as the rest of the world.”
Atkinson, who suffered a major disappointment after finishing last in her pet event, the 100m breastroke at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in August, said the swimmers from other countries got everything they needed to enhance their performances. “The silliest things that you can even think of,” she said, before noting that even the arrangements by the world governing body for swimming favoured those from the more developed countries.
“At the last World Championships, there were six different hotels and all the countries that were expected to medal were in the best hotels, and the others were in the rickety ones around the corner. Everything, from the food and the environment, was a step down.”
It was the support from her sponsors and the ASAJ, she said, that made the difference for her. “If it was not for the support from Rainforest and from Jamaica swimming and Jamaica itself, I would not be able to bring myself up to that level and know that I could do well,” she said.
“It’s not just about you giving someone money…it’s hard to say, but it embodies who I am and it keeps me fighting.”
This season has seen ups and downs, she said, from the Olympics let down to breaking a World Short Course 100m breaststroke record and finish the season strongly. But she said she will fight on.
“There have been ups and down; life is a fight and we can’t give up because life throws you a curveball when you are expecting a straight one,” she said. “I want to build up swimming for people of colour, and for Jamaica; I want to build up children’s characters and teach them that they must try to excel and not just to give up.”
Roger Lyn, marketing manager for Rainforest Seafoods, called Atkinson a “true ambassador, the type of person we want to align our brand with, not just being an athlete, but the example that you set”.
In his welcome he said the alignment between the swimmer and the brand was perfect. “We are seafood and all about the ocean, so we are happy to make the partnership happen this year.”
Ernest Grant, general manager of Rainforest Seafoods, said Atkinson had raised the profile of the sport. “You are now a household name and have inspired many others,” he said, as he reminded Jamaicans that athletes are not just those who run and jump.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport/Atkinson-cites-sponsors-as-key-to-her-success_83728
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
PRIME Minister Andrew Holness has hailed the outstanding philanthropic contributions of corporate entities which 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 noted.
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’.
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. She is an ambassador for the governor general’s I Believe Initiative in the parish.
The Young Leader Award was presented to 24-year-old Portmore youth leader Neville Charlton, who is the youth director of the Silver Stone Citizens’ Association and also heads his own youth group, Youths Inspiring Positive Change Jamaica. He is also an ambassador in the governor general’s I Believe Foundation and has been impacting youngsters through his Tivoli Gardens Social Intervention Initiative, which seeks to offer mentorship and build self-esteem and character.
Former Lasco top cop, Nadine Grant-Brown, who founded the programme ‘Eve for Change’, received the Public Sector Volunteer of the Year Award. The programme operates through the St Elizabeth Community Safety and Security Branch of the Jamaica Constabulary Force.
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 over 77,000 children eachttp://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/PM-Holness-hails-work-of—corporate-volunteers——-_83460h year.
The CVSS is the coordinating body for non-government organisation’s involved in social development and has a mission to build the capacity of its members and the wider community and to create sustainable alliances.
RELIEF has come for parents with children enrolled at the Arcadia Basic School in St Thomas as a new building, donated by Food For the Poor (FFP) Jamaica, has not only provided better learning facilities but also eliminated the payment of tuition fees.
The building has allowed the baic schol to merge with the primary school in the area, becoming the Arcadia Primary School’s Infant Department and bringing the former basic school under the direct control of Government.
The six-unit building, which was handed over to the school’s administration recently, has three spacious classrooms, bathrooms, an office, a sick bay and a fully equipped kitchen.
FFP donors Tricia and Matthew Miclette, who funded the much-needed building, said their donation was a way of honouring their deceased father.
“My father came from an impoverished family and never gave up, and continued to rise and I wish for the community of Arcadia and the school to continue to rise above and share in the blessing that the Lord has provided,” Matthew told the attendees at the handing-over ceremony.
The Miclettes expressed gratitude at being able to effect change in the lives of students of the infant department.
“We want to thank the community of Arcadia for giving us this opportunity and we want to thank Food For The Poor for opening our eyes to the level of poverty that exists for us to help,” said Tricia at the handing-over ceremony.
A “prize” is how Principal Mavern Downie Galloway described the new structure, while speaking at the handing-over ceremony. She sang the praises of donors Matthew and Tricia Miclette for funding the construction of the building.
“The passion you have has enabled us to tear down a barrier that limits education in this community. Your gift to us is a gift of love. Your passion has brought hope, and rest assured, hope will lead to success,” said the principal.
Member of Parliament Fenton Ferguson, who also addressed the gathering, lauded FFP Jamaica and its donors for their contribution to the education system with their construction of schools across Jamaica.
“I want to say a big thank you to Food For The Poor and the Ministry of Education for accommodating this new strategic action that I believe will be of great value to the education system as they (students) will have greater access to education.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/News/A-new-day-for-Arcadia-Basic-School_83005
Christmas came early for 200 seniors from Clusters D and G at the Golden Age Home in Vineyard Town, Kingston, yesterday. They were treated at the Yuletide festivities that Food For The Poor (FFP) stages annually for them.
Through a long-standing partnership with the Golden Age Home, FFP officially sponsors both clusters at the home. The golden agers at the treat included persons who are challenged both mentally and physically, and seniors with chronic ailments such as diabetes or hypertension. Their smiles were broad as they partook of the goodies, with Christmas carols as topping.
“They look forward to this day the whole year. When we come here, it’s a joy for them to see us because we aren’t just feeding them, we are spending time and interacting with them,” David Mair, executive director of Food For The Poor, told The Gleaner.
He added: “We are here to facilitate anything we can do to uplift their lives, and that’s what’s really great about this job.
General manager of the Golden Age Home Laurette Adams-Thomas told The Gleaner: “I think it’s wonderful! It’s something that the residents and employees look forward to every day. This type of relationship with FFP is not new as their giving is ongoing. One of the things we really appreciate is that FFP is not just a donor or a sponsor, they are a partner.”
She further stated: “Senior citizens are not really given priority in this day and age. We see where more attention is being given to our youth. So I get a feeling of fulfilment when I see that the seniors are properly cared for.”
The Golden Age Home is primarily government funded. It currently houses approximately 460 persons and has 160 employees across seven clusters. It acts as an infirmary and also cares for persons who have been rendered destitute. It is the largest facility of its kind in Jamaica and the Caribbean offering these types of services.
Both Mair and Thomas appealed for further sponsorship and potential partnership from corporate Jamaica to aid in retrofitting facilities such as the bathroom for disabled persons, a bus for transportation, and overall funding and supplies on a daily basis.
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/lead-stories/20161209/200-golden-agers-feted-food-poor
The GraceKennedy Foundation has renewed funding for the Carlton S. Alexander Chair in Management Studies and the James Moss-Solomon Senior Chair in Environmental Management at the University of the West Indies (UWI).
The Chairs are respectively held by Professor Ian Boxill, who has been in the post since 2010, and Professor Mona Webber, who was appointed on October 1 this year.
During a forum held on November 22 at the Regional Headquarters at the UWI, both professors spoke about their research, community work, and their relevance to current problems being faced by the country.
Among Boxill’s research and contributions over the past year is a programme with the Sandals Group and Island Tours to identify ways of leveraging Jamaica’s attractions, improving the tourist experience, expanding linkages, and earning more revenue for the country. He has also conducted a needs assessment with the Jamaica Manufacturing Association to identify the areas where greater support is needed by the sector to increase its effectiveness. Manufacturing contributed 8.6 per cent to GDP in 2015.
Webber’s account of her research opened eyes and minds as she shared about the life-giving and, possibly, life-saving work her team is conducting under the sea.
She spoke about the impact of pollution on marine health and announced that she would be delving further into examining content found in the stomachs of fish found in Jamaica’s waters. Already discovered is that some fish are consuming toxic micro plastics. Her research will have far-reaching implication for the livelihood of fishermen and the health of consumers of seafood.
Each Chair is funded by the GraceKennedy Foundation at a value of $5.5. million per annum.
Don Wehby, CEO of GraceKennedy Ltd, commended both professors on their work, while also thanking outgoing James Moss Solomon Snr Chair, Professor Dale Webber, who was recently appointed pro-vice-chancellor, graduate studies and research.
“The UWI must be known as a centre for solutions and a leader in promoting innovation and innovative thinking among its students – the future leaders of Jamaica. Education, after all, is the ultimate problem solver … I again restate GraceKennedy’s commitment to UWI as we see it as one of our ways of answering the future’s call,” Wehby said.
Professor Archie McDonald, principal of the UWI’s Mona campus, described the partnership between the GraceKennedy Foundation and the UWI as “the quintessential merger of big business and education”.
Jamaica Highlights 