Category: Newspaper Story

Bolt fans receive Our Spirit VIP access to JN’s Racers Grand Prix

As the megastar of track and field Usain Bolt prepares for his final race on Jamaican soil, three women are anticipating with bated breath their first opportunity to meet and witness the Olympic champion running live after winning Our Spirit VIP access to today’s JN Racer’s Grand Prix from Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum.

The recipients were able to mingle with all the athletes in Jamaica for the races last night at the Welcome Reception and watch the races live from the Grandstand at the National Stadium today.

Cynthia Champagnie, Michelle Thompson and Natoya McFarlane, who are all self-professed Bolt fans, were all excited when they learnt that they would be attending the world-class spectacle today.

“I am too excited because I can barely wait for Saturday. It’s truly an exciting feeling to know I will be able to see the legendary Bolt run live for the first time,” an anxious Champagnie explained.

The avid track and field fans all have varying first memories of the triple world record holder but all profess to knowing early in his career that Bolt would become legendary.

“I will never forget watching him run at World Junior Champs in Jamaica. The name alone, ‘Usain Bolt’ made you know he was going to become a superstar, he lit Jamaica on fire!” recalled Natoya McFarlane.

While Thompson’s earliest memory of Bolt was at the 2004 Olympics, his best race for her is not his world record runs but his triumph over arch rival Justin Gatlin in the 100m and 200m at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing.

“Gatlin was running all these fast times, behaving like he could beat the ‘boss’, and Bolt showed who was the boss by whipping him twice — that is my favourite Bolt memory because he showed champions never give up,” she declared.

The three women, each with a guest, were given a chance to attend the Athlete’s Reception for the track event last night, and to view live the biggest track and field moment on Jamaica’s soil for 2017.

For marketing manager of J Wray & Nephew Limited, Pietro Gramegna, gifting these track and field devotees with the chance to witness Bolt run live for the first time was an opportunity his company could not give up: “In true Jamaican spirit, we support and celebrate our athletes whether they are performing locally or internationally, and we are pleased to grant the opportunity for three Jamaicans, who have never been lucky enough to see the legendary Usain Bolt run live, to witness his last performance in Jamaica.”

 

Honesty, Integrity, Trust – For 95 Years And Beyond

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The following is an edited version of remarks delivered by Don Wehby, group CEO of GraceKennedy Limited, at the company’s 95th anniversary church service held at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Kingston on Sunday:

Not too long ago, as a youngster in khakis, I visited this church every first Friday for worship. In those days, it was mandatory. As I look back on my life, I’m thankful that it was. Those hours of prayer shaped my early spiritual identity and prepared me for a path which I could never have imagined would have led me to standing here before you as CEO of GraceKennedy. It just shows how important it is to dream big, work hard, and give God thanks.

I have also seen – both in my personal and business life – that it is God who makes all things possible, and He can take people, institutions and countries further than they or others could ever imagine. So today, we have come to this house to reflect and give thanks, fully aware that 95 years would not have been possible solely on human strength.

I salute each founder, director, and employee of GraceKennedy from the beginning to now, for the strength, commitment, passion and faith to have laboured in love to make this company what it is today. We honour our founders Dr John Grace, Fred Kennedy and James Moss-Solomon Sr and former CEOs Carlton Alexander, Rafael Diaz and Douglas Orane. And there are many other unsung heroes. I acknowledge members of the founding families who are with us today. We thank God for using them as vessels to build a company that shows love to our people and to our country.

IN PRAISE OF TEAM MEMBERS

We talk about this all the time and it is still worth mentioning: In 1925, we offered employees the right to purchase shares in the company at par. Also, in 1951, GraceKennedy became the first Jamaican company to establish free health, and superannuation schemes, and life insurance for staff. Today, we continue to look for every opportunity to ensure that our staff are well taken care of and can provide for their families.

I would like to salute our retirees. Many of them are here today or would have wanted to be. We hold them dear because of all they have given and how they continue to hold us in their hearts. They give us strength to continue every day. And they are very special to me.

We have a great executive team, which is committed to living the core values and continuing the tradition of leadership and service. We are thankful for their passion and commitment to GK.

JUST THE BEGINNING

Ninety-five years for some businesses is more than a lifetime. But for us, in some ways, it is just the beginning. The best is yet to come. From our humble early days, we have grown from strength to strength, and today, we are fixed on the goal of being a global world-class consumer group. GraceKennedy’s journey to the world is in full flight, with offices in Jamaica, the Caribbean, North America, UK and Europe, and Africa.

As we continue to grow and give the world a taste of who we are, we are more committed than ever to serving our Jamaican market with quality products and to keep GraceKennedy’s brands as household names. We are also encouraged to contribute to the growth of Jamaica and the communities in which we do business wherever we are in the world.

I believe wholeheartedly that even from birth, we have been a company ahead of its time, constantly looking beyond and thinking ahead. We know that greater things lie ahead. History has proven that when a solid foundation is put down, you can build with peace of mind. We have set our foundation, and we are building! And as I tell my team, I know there will be challenges, but if we fall down nine times, we are to get up 10!

Honesty, integrity, trust, humility and commitment are cherished core values which are our compass as we move forward with hope and optimism for the future. These are the same values that I learnt from my parents in this church over 30 years.

May God bless each of you, and our country, Jamaica. I pray for peace and love in this great country.

Source: Jamaica Gleaner | Honesty, integrity, trust – for 95 years and beyond

UWI Solicits Ads for Digital Network

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The University of the West Indies Development and Endowment Fund (UWIDEF) is urging corporate bodies to advertise on its digital platform which it has branded MonaView.

Proceeds raised from the ads finance scholarships, bursaries, capital improvement projects, and meal vouchers for students, the university has said.

MonaView is the first and only digital signage network operating at the University of the West Indies’ Mona and Western Jamaica campuses and the University Hospital of the West Indies, with a reach of approximately 80,000 weekly, the university announced. The network broadcasts advertisements on television screens in 11 locations.

At a luncheon the UWIDEF hosted for members of the Advertising Agencies Association of Jamaica (AAAJ) at the the Courtleigh Hotel a week-and-a-half ago, Dr Earl Jarrett, JN general manager, and UWIDEF board director said that advertising with MonaView had cost his company some $2 million less than it would have with other media.

He called on UWI graduates to follow his example and advertise with MonaView in order to provide more scholarships to promising students of humble means.

“We believe that by selling advertisements we not only earn resources to help students in real need, we also provide an outlet for organisations to participate in corporate social responsibility with real returns,” executive director of UWIDEF, Carla Seaga, told the gathering.

This is accomplished, she explained, as the resources from the advertisements offer a very affordable advertising opportunity and the resources assist UWIDEF to accomplish its mission of assistance at Mona.

President of the AAAJ, Kingsley Morris, assured UWIDEF of the support of the members of his organisation.

“We thank UWIDEF for sharing this information with us,” he said. “We look forward to working along with you to promote our clients’ goods and services.”

UWIDEF is the main fund-raising arm for projects that support the development of the UWI Mona campus. Over a 25-year period, it has contributed over $800 million to the university for research, development, health and scholarships. In 2016 alone, UWIDEF provided scholarship assistance valued at more than $4 million to students in various fields of study. Dennis Lalor is its founder and chairman.

Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/UWI-solicits-ads-for-digital-network_88609

RJRGLEANER Employee Wins $10M In ‘Q Is The Key To Cash 4 Life’

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When Mark Brown, an employee of The RJRGleaner Communi-cations Group, bought Qs of Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum to assist his sister with adding flavour to her Christmas cakes, little did he know there was a blessing of $10 million in return for him.

Brown is now one of two grand prize winners in the recently concluded J. Wray & Nephew ‘Q is the Key to Cash 4 Life’ competition.

Brown saved every Q he bought to help his sister, and entered the codes via text as instructed for the competition, and on January 29 he was told of his life-changing win.

“I feel elated, excited, nervous, blessed and favoured. This is something I have been praying for – a financial blessing. I think God has actually blessed me today,” said Brown, who was just returning home from church when the team from J.Wray & Nephew Limited announced his victory to him.

“The only thing I can do is give God thanks and praise for it. This is my breakthrough. I have prayed for it and a lot of people have prayed for it to happen for me too, and I am just giving thanks for it,” added Brown, before calling his mother to tell her the good news.

HOW HE WILL SPEND IT

When asked how he plans to spend the money, the first thing he could think of doing were acts of kindness.

“I have some family members who I want to help and my children overseas. I can now put towards their college fund. Last month, I borrowed a major loan to take care of some things, but if I knew this was going to happen I wouldn’t have done that,” said Brown.

Howard Cover, a resident of Portland, is the other grand prize winner of the ‘Q is the Key to Cash 4 Life’ competition. Like Brown, he intends to use his winnings to give to those in need, especially his family members.

“I have three grandchildren whom I want to help with the money. I want to see to it that they get a good education. They are 16, 10 and eight. I am also going to buy some property with the money, invest some otherwise, mostly in farming, which is what I know about,” said Cover.

According to Pietro Gramegna, marketing manager, J. Wray & Nephew Limited, the company is elated that it could have enriched the lives of two deserving Jamaicans.

“We at J. Wray & Nephew Limited are always envisioning ways to enrich the lives of our consumers. With the ‘Q is the Key to Cash 4 Life’ promotion, two flasks of Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum allowed two loyal consumers to become real millionaires,” said Gramegna.

Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20170205/rjrgleaner-employee-wins-10m-q-key-cash-4-life

Home for the elderly to get help from Digicel Foundation

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Way back in 1978, Bob Marley, Lloyd Ferguson, and Tappa Zukie came up with the concept of building a home for the elderly in Trench Town, St Andrew.

Political violence was rearing its ugly head in the tough concrete jungle, and according to Ferguson, he and his friends were heartbroken by the fact that persons were relocating to other communities and the elderly were being left behind.

“We were just trying to reach out to elderly people here in the community and elsewhere who couldn’t help themselves,” Ferguson, manager of the home, told THE STAR.

Seven residents now live at the home, which is in need of infrastructural upgrades and other support.

“A nuff fix up this want,” Ferguson said. “This home is ever in need of any help we can get from corporate Jamaica,”

Ferguson recalled that Bob Marley was passionate about the home, but his death in 1981 meant he would not see it take shape.

However, with the untimely demise of the reggae legend, a group of Swiss, who were in Jamaica, took an interest in Trench Town. They raised thousands of dollars in Switzerland, which they sent back to Jamaica. The money was used to set up the Eira Schader Home for the Aged.

He said that the home now gets funding through the Bob Marley Foundation to the tune of $34,000 per month, which in insufficient to pay bills at the facility.

“We never really go out and ask anybody to help us because a we deal with it and keep it alive,” said Ferguson, who adds that employees at the facility work for meagre wages.

“This was Bob’s dream. I just sorry say Bob gone,” Ferguson said, noting that the home has been in operation since 1986.

The Eira Schader Home will be the beneficiary of funds collected from the sale of VIP tickets at this year’s staging of Redemption Live. The concert, which is free to the public, is being held in honour of reggae icon Bob Marley. VIP tickets will also be on sale for $4,000 each.

Just recently, Digicel Foundation joined forces with the home in an attempt to further develop a vegetable garden.

“We’ve also chosen to work with them to create a vegetable garden, and we’ve gone even further to connect them with representatives from RADA to ensure the activity can be sustained. This gives the residents an opportunity to enjoy a farm-to-table experience while spending quality time outdoors,” said Patrice Smith-Sterling, social enterprise and special projects manager at the Digicel Foundation.

Ferguson said that he welcomes any assistance that is now being provided. He added that if the home is repaired, it may be able to accommodate about 20 senior citizens.

Source: http://jamaica-star.com/article/news/20170201/home-elderly-get-help

Food For The Poor Looks To Break New Ground

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Charity eyes special emergency-response team

Requests for emergency assistance for victims of natural disasters, fire and other tragedies are a feature of the workday for employees of Food For The Poor (FFP). However, one such phone call from Dr Omar Davies, member of parliament for St Andrew South, about a fire in Arnett Gardens late last year presented some challenges.

The call came about 7 p.m. on Christmas Eve, a Saturday, and, with the following Monday and Tuesday being public holidays, there would be no one in office for at least the next three days.

With the appeal being for immediate assistance for the fire victims – mattresses, food and clothing at least – the agency responded.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE

However, FFP Chairman Andrew Mahfood, acknowledged the situation highlighted the need for a specialised emergency response team to deal with such situations.

“I would actually like to see us be able to do that as well, because we are dealing with a situation where the people don’t have a place to sleep tonight. So if we can even get them some emergency supplies like mattresses, or clothing so they can at least get on their feet the next day, that would be good,” he told The Gleaner.

Proof of ownership impacting assistance in inner-city areas 

Andrew Mahfood, chairman of Food For the Poor, says the organisation’s ability to assist with the building of homes for persons in the inner city is being stymied by the beneficiaries’ inability to provide proof of ownership of the land or legal access to occupy the premises.

“It is one of the things that delays our effort considerably. If we were able to go into an area like Arnett (Gardens), where people have been living for many years, and just rebuild, the process would happen quicker, but we require proof of land ownership or lease, to show that they have the right to be on the land, to show that the taxes have been paid on the land. We need to ensure that our recipients have the right to be on the spot that we are building,” Mahfood said.

“What we’ve found in the past is that if we don’t follow those guidelines and regulations, we could end up building on lands that somebody else owns and then before you know it, somebody else comes and says, ‘You have to come out of that house, it’s my land’. But if we can somehow find a way where the lands in the inner city, the people can get the right to them, somehow it will speed up our efforts considerably.”

Charity organisation seeking to engage in community-development projects

Food For The Poor (FFP) is looking to partner with the State in community development in a more sustainable way, involving the construction of houses, community centres, places of worship, schools, etc.

“(The State) could give us plots of land where we can encourage community-type living and farming and co-operative-type. We’ve approached them and we’ve gotten initially some good feedback and it’s something we’re gonna have more discussion on. Agriculture presents a great opportunity for us and the people, given Food For The Poor’s ability to fund agriculture and water harvesting where you can put multiple tanks together with a source and feed it. Food For The Poor can, out in those tanks, we can put in pumps,” Food For the Poor Chairman Andrew Mahfood disclosed.

The charity organisation is now looking for recipients who are serious about getting into agriculture, especially with donors in the United States opting more to fund income-generating sustainable projects in agriculture, with water harvesting and sanitation issues a priority.

Said Mahfood: “We’re looking for areas where we can put in big water projects because donors in the United States are very interested in water, in being able to provide water and being able to provide sanitation. Those two areas we are finding our donors gravitating more towards. So let’s say that we have this project in a community, there is no running water. We can go and put in 30,000 gallons but once we confirm that there is a need, the office in Florida will then go to its donors and circulate it and get it funded.”

LOCAL BUSINESS SUPPORT

In the area of housing financing, which caters to individuals or families, more local businesses are taking an active interest by sponsoring 50 per cent of the cost of a standard Food For The Poor dwelling, which now stands at US$7,200. The charity organisation is quick to match any amount of such offers with a 50 per cent contribution.

Over the three-and-a-half decades of helping the less fortunate, political interference in its operations has been a non-issue, which Mahfood attributes to an appreciation of its stellar service.

“Our politicians and our Government, I think, do recognise that we can play a big role for the country and for them as well. If an MP is able to lobby Food For The Poor to do a lot of work in their area, it helps them. We don’t work with any particular MP. We want to work with every single MP in both parties. I believe that Jamaica, through the organisation, has a huge potential to do a lot more projects and we see those projects being funded in other countries. So one of the things that we have decided to for this year is to really mock up some very big projects and go after those donors in America that are funding the very same projects for other countries.”

Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/lead-stories/20170130/food-poor-looks-break-new-ground

New JMMB Her Wealth offering targets women

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A recent study conducted by the International Labour Organization identified Jamaica as one of the top three countries where ‘the boss’ is likely to be female. These statistics in the study Women in Business and Management, Gaining Momentum are not surprising, as women account for more than 70 per cent of students enrolled at the tertiary level in major local universities.

Climbing the corporate ladder marks a different, if not new, milestone for women, as they have stood the test of time, often seeking work/life balance — in the case of working mothers — even as they juggle varying roles while pursuing their dreams.

In support of the empowerment of women to achieve their financial goals, the JMMB Group has announced the introduction of JMMB Her Wealth, a complete package of financial solutions which includes investments, loans, savings facilities and insurance. As part of the customisation of the offerings to better cater to women, JMMB also provides a maternity loan, and coverage of handbag contents against theft as part of their motor vehicle insurance offering.

According to JMMB Jamaica Country Manager Kisha Anderson, women have shown their continued intention to attain financial success in Jamaica.

“We aim to facilitate and assist our clients to achieve their goals. This new offering is in response to a perceived gap that has been identified in the market, and research that suggests the need for financial institutions to deepen their relationship with women in order to meet their unique financial needs,” she explained.

Anderson says JMMB Her Wealth is designed as a special and remarkable vehicle for this purpose, and is the first of its kind in the market.

The JMMB Her Wealth packaged solution also includes a rewards programme that offers JMMB Her Wealth clients special access to discounts (or other benefits) of up to 20 per cent from partnering companies.

The partners selected to be a part of the JMMB Her Wealth Rewards programme are established organisations that offer support services that are typically utilised by women in their daily lives. These include auto servicing and maintenance; food; home care; medical services; counselling; beauty and spa services; computers and accessories; and children’s products and accessories.

Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/allwoman/issues/New-JMMB-Her-Wealth-offering-targets-women_87598

Food For The Poor assists corn farmers

For hundreds of farmers across Jamaica, a single bag of corn seeds represents a great improvement not only for the quality of their harvest, but also for the betterment of their lives.

More than 1,200 bags of corn seeds were donated by Food For The Poor Jamaica to be distributed through the Jamaica Agricultural Society and the Rural Agricultural Development Authority across all parishes.

Omar Dennis, a farmer of 15 years, has seen positive changes since he received the seeds in August 2016.

Dennis, who is the sole breadwinner of his family, said reaping the produce from the donated corn seeds has benefited his family. In the past, he sometimes struggled to send his two children, ages 8 and 11, to school due to lack of funds.

“Now I am sure that I will be going home with money for my family. It feels good to know that I am able to provide food for them and I am sure that my children can go to school,” Dennis said.

Dennis expressed gratitude to Food For The Poor Jamaica for providing the seeds, which he could not afford to buy.

Corn seeds are very expensive. One bag of corn seed would actually cost us approximately J$30,000, so it is really a great venture,” he added.

Dennis Roberts, who has farmed for 30 years, expressed happiness with the high-quality crop that the corn seeds produced.

“It’s among the best quality that we have seen since planting corn for over the last 20 years,” he said.

Roberts added that the corn was able to survive the drought and resist diseases better than what he had grown in the past.

He also praised the charity for its contribution to farmers.

“We will save as a result of not having to purchase fertilisers, which means we will earn a greater profit,” Roberts said.

David Mair, executive director of Food For The Poor Jamaica, said the charity and its donors recognise the importance of agriculture to Jamaica’s development.

“Distributions such as this and our continued support of members of the agricultural sector represent our belief that agriculture is critical to Jamaica achieving socioeconomic growth,” Mair said.

Food For The Poor Jamaica contributes to farmers across Jamaica through its agricultural ministry and a number of initiatives.

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Source: http://jamaica-star.com/article/news/20170130/food-poor-assists-corn-farmers

Food For The Poor Going Places

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In 35 years of operation, the role of Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica, as well as the scope of its operations, has grown significantly as the charity continues to enable and enrich beneficiaries within and far beyond local shores.

As news of the humanitarian crisis in Haiti spread, following the widespread devastation by Hurricane Matthew last October, Jamaicans turned to FFP as a channel for their good intentions, a situation which Chairman Andrew Mahfood admits caught him off-guard.

“The Haiti relief, that was amazing. We started to get a couple calls right after the hurricane, and I am not sure if it’s because of how close it came to us, but the outpouring of support from Jamaica to us, to give to Haiti, was something we hadn’t seen before. Seventeen containers were shipped and J$12 million raised,” Mahfood told The Gleaner.

From humble beginnings at Emerald Road, Kingston, from which goods brought into the island through the Catholic Relief Service in 1982 were distributed, the phenomenal growth of the local chapter of this charitable non-profit organisation has been consistent with that of its parent company. Food For The Poor is the largest charity organisation in Jamaica, with Food For The Poor Incorporated, located in Florida, United States of America (USA), being the largest international relief and development organisation in the USA, assisting the poor in 17 Latin American and Caribbean countries.

“We did start as Food For The Poor, giving away food, but now the objectives of the organisation are so vast – housing, medical, social outreach, education, prison ministries, water and sanitation and agriculture,” the chairman explained.

He offered an explanation as to why more donors are looking to share of their bounty through the non-denominational entity. “I think what is happening is that we are connecting more with corporate Jamaica and through the good efforts of the media and the reporting on all the stuff that we do, that connection is growing. They are seeing the wide range of things that we are doing.”

People flock from far and wide to the head office of Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica at Ellerslie Pen, Spanish Town, in St Catherine, as soon as the doors open, from Monday to Friday.

There, some 135 staffers comprising what FFP Chairman Andrew Mahfood describes as “a good team out there” attend to the varied requests for assistance.

Investigators are the first responders, whether it’s a request for immediate help from a fire victim or to build a home for a family.

“Somebody has to actually go and visit the premises and say, ‘Yes, we’ve been to the location and we’ve seen the conditions they live under.’ So we get the picture and all of us see that it’s a genuine case,” Mahfood told The Gleaner.

Individuals seeking help may contact the organisation directly or through a church in their area, a pastor, justice of the peace, or member of parliament. However, FFP is working to help Jamaicans to help themselves, as well as others, Mahfood explained.

“The organisation has always felt that we have to get our recipients self-sufficient and into projects that are sustainable for them to provide an income. We believe that Jamaica provides a great opportunity for recipients to come together – either in a community and do a big agricultural project. Food For The Poor has the ability to fund those projects – put in homes, to put in, say, a community centre, to put in a place where people can go and pray, as well as schools. These are things that it can do in these communities.”

Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/lead-stories/20170130/food-poor-going-places

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