Category: outreach

Lloyd’s Basic Undergoes Construction

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Lloyd’s Basic School in the parish of St Thomas is being constructed with the financial support of Donette Chin-Loy Chang, in memory of her late husband, G. Raymond Chang.

According to Samantha Mahfood, executive director of Food For The Poor Canada, “Ray was FFPC’s advocate and patron. His wisdom and vision are missed. However, Donette, as co-chair of the board, continues to uphold Ray’s focus on education. We continue to support Food For The Poor’s commitment to early childhood education and are excited to be building the 20th school funded by Canadians. Food For The Poor Jamaica has built 80 schools in the last four years, funded by donors from Jamaica, the US and Canada.”

Like his wife, Ray Chang was born in Jamaica and spent most of his adult life in Canada, but always had a passion and commitment to his homeland. Humanitarians with a focus on sustainability and education, the Chang family continues a legacy of helping to build communities through the Raymond Chang Foundation and organisations like Food For The Poor.

The school serves a community of about 2,500. Lloyd’s Basic School is currently in a small, one-room building that shares space with other community services, including a church. The new construction will include an office, sick bay, kitchen, three classrooms, and a brand new playground, offering children from ages three to five a more ideal space in which to learn.

Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20161029/lloyds-basic-undergoes-construction

Kirk Brown Turns Digicel Imagine Run 5K Into Own Street Party

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KIRK BROWN is turning the Digicel Imagine 5K Night Run into his own little spectacle.

For the third time, Brown proved to be master of the streets and alleyways of downtown Kingston and in cool conditions on a wet road, he decimated the field to take the men’s title in the fifth staging of the annual event, which raises funds for ‘special needs’.

The 29-year-old, who also won last year, was 11 seconds faster than 23-year-old Oshane Archibald, the second-place finisher. Dwayne Graham clocked a respectable 17 minutes and three seconds to take third place in the men’s category.

“My aim was to come out here and win it another year. The wet roads made it a bit more challenging, but I’m glad I made it though.”

The women’s segment was dominated by teenagers, two of whom placed among the top three.

JUNIOR TEAM

Llori Sharpe, only 16 years old, but distinguished as a junior Team Jamaica triathlete, crossed the finish line at 21 minutes and 47 seconds, ahead of her closest rival, 14-year-old Chantay Chamberlain. Road race veteran Arieta Martin, who is 36 years old, was third in 22 minutes and 48 seconds.

“My objective was to make sure that I got out ahead of the pack that usually forms early in the race and then get into my rhythm, increase my pace and cross the finish line,” said Sharpe.

The win, she says, gives her confidence to go farther as a triathlete.

There were over 13,500 participants, the largest number ever for the fast-growing event.

In the coming weeks, Digicel will announce the total sum raised from the 5K and will hand over the monies to the nine beneficiaries, namely, the Jamaica Autism Support Association, Jamaica Down’s Syndrome Foundation, Early Stimulation Plus, Jamaica Association on Intellectual Disabilities, Mustard Seed Communities, Special Olympics Jamaica, Jamaica Paralympic Association, Abilities Foundation and the Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf/Deaf Can Coffee.

The Digicel Imagine Night Run was sponsored by Mello FM, Marksman, PayPak, Jamaica Producers Group, Urban Development Corporation, Express Fitness, Logo Stitch, Main Event, National Outdoor Advertising, Dairy Industries Jamaica Ltd., Honeybun, Innovative Signs, Jamaica Producers, ARRC Media, ProComm, The Lab, Courts Ready Cash, Courts Optical, Running Events, Urban Development Corporation, Pure National Ice, Logostitch, Gatorade and KSAC. The media sponsors are Bess FM, Irie FM, Zip FM, Loop, Nationwide News Network, Love, Suncity, Sportsmax, and members of the RJR Group, including Power 106, Hitz 92 and TVJ.

Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/sports/20161026/kirk-brown-turns-digicel-imagine-run-5k-own-street-party

CIBC donates $3.2m to Haiti relief

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CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank announced on Friday that it has donated $3.2 million (US$25,000) to the Haiti Relief Fund to help the country recover from Hurricane Matthew, which hit the island on October 3, 2016.

Half of the sum, $1.6 million, was donated through Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica, which is working to distribute food and other supplies to Haiti. The other half, equivalent to BDS$25,000, was presented to the United Caribbean Trust (UCT) in Barbados to facilitate the purchase and distribution of water filters for the community tanks in the areas hardest hit by the hurricane.

The filters, which will be installed in schools, orphanages, prisons and churches, will give close to 1 million Haitians access to safe drinking water, the bank said.

CIBC FirstCaribbean, Managing Director, Nigel Holness said that the bank was “very concerned for the well-being of our neighbours in Haiti”, in spite of the fact that the bank does not operate in that island.

Speaking at the presentation of the cheque to Food For The Poor Executive Director David Mair, Holness said that FFP and UCT both have a respected history of relief work in Haiti, and that was one of the reasons his bank decided to enter the partnership.

He noted that “clean water, food and shelter are a major priority after a national disaster, and we are proud to do our part in ensuring our Haitian brothers and sisters are provided for”.

“CIBC FirstCaribbean must be applauded for their generosity,” said Mair, noting that the humanitarian response from Jamaica has so far resulted in over seven container shipments of canned food, water, and a host of non-perishable items.

Food For The Poor headquarters in Florida, he said, had shipped multiple amounts of relief items as well, and the organisation’s representatives in Haiti were focused on feeding and providing shelter for displaced Haitians and helping them develop sustainable incomes.

Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/CIBC-donates–3-2m-to-Haiti-relief_78127

Brown, Sharpe top Digicel Imagine 5K Night Run

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Amidst cool conditions and a wet course, 29-year-old Kirk Brown and 16-year-old Llori Sharpe emerged the men’s and women’s champions, respectively, at the fifth staging of the annual Digicel Imagine 5K Night Run for Special Needs in downtown Kingston on Saturday.

Brown, the 2015 champion and three-time winner of the event, was 11 seconds faster than 23-year-old Oshane Archibald, who was the second-place finisher, while Dwayne Graham clocked a respectable 17 minutes and three seconds to take third place in the men’s category.

Although the 2016 win was not one of his best winning times, Brown focused. “My aim was to come out here and win it another year. The wet roads made it a bit more challenging, but I’m glad I made it though.”

His female counterpart, Sharpe, who is also a junior Team Jamaica triathlete, crossed the finish line at 21 minutes and 47 seconds ahead of her closest rivals, 14-year-old Chantay Chamberlain and 36-year-old Arieta Martin, who came in 22 and 48 seconds later, respectively.

The teen was undaunted by wet surface conditions and held her composure all the way to the finish.

She reflected: “My objective was to make sure that I got out ahead of the pack that usually forms early in the race, and then get into my rhythm, increase my pace and cross the finish line.”

The win, she said, gives her confidence to go farther as a triathlete.

Brown and Sharpe lead a field of over 13,500 participants — the highest-ever for the fast-growing annual event.

In the coming weeks, Digicel will announce the total sum raised from the 5K and will hand over the monies to the nine beneficiaries, namely, the Jamaica Autism Support Association, Jamaica Down’s Syndrome Foundation, Early Stimulation Plus, Jamaica Association on Intellectual Disabilities, Mustard Seed Communities, Special Olympics Jamaica, Jamaica Paralympic Association, Abilities Foundation, and the Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf/Deaf Can! Coffee.

The Digicel Imagine Night Run was sponsored by Mello FM, Marksman, PayPak, Jamaica Producers Group, Urban Development Corporation, Express Fitness, Main Event Entertainment, National Outdoor Advertising, Dairy Industries Jamaica Ltd, Honeybun, Innovative Signs, Jamaica Producers, ARRC Media, ProComm, The Lab, Courts Ready Cash, Courts Optical, Running Events, Pure National Ice, Logostitch, Gatorade, and Kingston & St Andrew Corporation.

Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport/Brown–Sharpe-top-Digicel-Imagine-5K-Night-Run_78191

Donation Overflow – Hurricane Matthew Contributions Exceed Those For 2010 Earthquake – FFTP

Local charity Food For The Poor has indicated that there has been an outpouring of support from Jamaicans for its efforts to deliver relief to Haitians who were displaced after Hurricane Matthew ravaged the island earlier in the month.

Chairman of Food For The Poor in Jamaica Andrew Mahfood told The Gleaner that the organisation has received $10 million dollars in goods and $5 million dollars in cash from individuals and companies.

“Already, we have received much more this year than we did when Haiti had the big earthquake,” he said, while providing an update on the donation drive launched by the charity after the passage of Hurricane Matthew.

According to Mahfood, the charity is currently preparing containers to be shipped to its offices in Haiti, from which they will be distributed to those most affected by the hurricane.

“I think the most important thing now is water, so we will be shipping out large supplies. We got a large donation of five containers of bottled water from a private-sector company, and we are going to procure more bottled water as well as more tinned food,” he said.

ADDITIONAL FUNDING

Mahfood also disclosed that a local private-sector company would be providing additional funds to the relief efforts through a campaign that would see the company matching funds through proceeds from the sale of its products.

New York-based Jamaican banker Gerald Wight Jnr, formerly of BCW Capital, is also to provide the charity with a sizable donation through his network with the chairman of Haiti’s only investment bank. Wight yesterday flew into Jamaica to host local private-sector interests and officials of the Haitian bank to kick-start fundraising efforts.

Mahfood further pointed out that Food For The Poor was well placed to lead the relief and recovery efforts as it has been working in Haiti for an extended period and has built numerous homes and schools since it set up operations there. Food For The Poor Haiti also feeds more than 200,000 Haitians each week.

From all indications, it would appear that Food For The Poor has become the de facto organisation for the relief efforts from Jamaica to Haiti. Even the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management has been channelling its assistance through the charity. It is for this reason that Mahfood has moved to assure Jamaicans that the charity is a faithful steward of whatever donations it receives.

“My family is associated with Food For The Poor. We have very strong directors on the board, and it’s those kind of people that are part of an organisation that when we say we are going to do something, we do it. So when we say goods are going to leave Jamaica and go to Haiti, if the public wants to see the bills of lading and pictures of the goods being delivered to the people in Haiti, they can because we do this every day in Haiti,” he said.

andre.poyser@gleanerjm.com

Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/lead-stories/20161020/donation-overflow-hurricane-matthew-contributions-exceed-those-2010

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Joy As Tower Hill Primary Gets New Building For Infant Department

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FOOD For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica recently handed over a new building it constructed for the Infant Department of Tower Hill Primary School in St James.

School’s administrators said they have, for years, been trying to have the old infrastructure replaced and finally had their prayers answered when FFP and donor Harriet Chapman of Atlanta, United States intervened and decided to construct a new building.

Principal Venessa Popkin-Addison, surrounded by happy students, was overcome with joy when the building was finally handed over recently.

“The hard work has finally paid off and our students can finally be in a more comfortable environment. We are truly blessed by the kindness of Mrs Harriet Chapman and Food For The Poor for our brand new infant building,” said Popkin-Addison in an interview immediately after the hand-over.

She said that students of the Infant Department were formerly housed in a cramped classroom but are now in a spacious environment. Three new classrooms have been constructed and suitably furnished. In addition, there is now an office, a sick bay, a fully equipped kitchen and sanitation facilities. Playground equipment were also provided and security fencing installed.

David Mair, executive director of FFP-Jamaica, hailed the continued support of the agency’s work across Jamaica by Chapman, who also funded the construction of the Hanover Education Institute in memory of her husband in 2015.

“Your contribution symbolises a genuine love for and belief in Jamaica’s children and this will never be forgotten,” Mair said.

He added that FFP Jamaica takes pride in focusing on education.

“Education is the most important tool to lift a nation out of poverty and create socio-economic development,” Mair said.

“Recognising this to be true, since our inception in 1982, Food For The Poor has been injecting significant support in the Jamaican education system. We have constructed schools and replaced pit latrines with flush toilet systems in 53 schools islandwide in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the Jamaica National Foundation. Just last week, approximately 374 students from basic to tertiary level benefitted from back-to-school grants for the 2016/2017 school term,” Mair added.

Chapman, meanwhile, said she was spurred into action when she viewed how uncomfortable the students were in their old classroom.

“I was here at Tower Hill a year ago and I saw the little ones packed in one room in the school, a room that had been the library and computer room. When I came here today I just had to cry because it is such a difference, everything looks so refreshed and so new and it is such a privilege to be able to be part of this,” Chapman said.

Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Joy-as-Tower-Hill-Primary-gets-new-building-for-infant-department_77734

Digicel Jamaica Foundation reaches 800,000

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2016 annual report shows strong growth in outreach, impact

Over 800,000 Jamaicans were positively touched by the work of the Digicel Jamaica Foundation during the organisation’s previous financial year, the Foundation said in a news release Friday.

This amounts to nearly one in every four Jamaicans directly or indirectly benefitting from the Foundation’s partnerships in education, special needs, entrepreneurship, and community development.

A local private philanthropic entity, the Digicel Foundation invested US$3.6 million ($460.8 million) over the past year in schools and communities islandwide. The figure was disclosed at the launch of the organisation’s annual report held at the Digicel Building in downtown Kingston on Thursday.

The report highlights that the foundation gave more than it had originally planned for the medium term 2013 to 2016; in some cases tripling initial targets. As examples, allocations for special needs teacher training and the number of social enterprises funded were increased.

An original idea to positively impact the lives of 75,000 Jamaicans under the foundation’s community development agenda, instead recorded a total reach of 214,164 persons.

“The dedicated Digicel Foundation team members were inspired by our partners, local and international, Government, and private sector,” noted Digicel Foundation Chairman Jean Lowrie-Chin. “We saw their resolve and dedication, resulting in higher educational achievements, greater awareness, and respect for our special needs community and extensive job creation.”

In explaining why more lives have been positively influenced by the expanded focus, Chief Executive Officer of the Digicel Foundation Samantha Chantrelle stated: “We received unwavering support from our project partners and beneficiaries which aided us in having a stronger impact on the lives of our fellow Jamaicans.”

The organisation’s commitment to supporting the special needs community continued this year as it funded 14 significant projects across the island in coordination with local and international partners.

The parish of Portland felt the greatest impact, with over 507,000 lives being touched by the work of the organisation. A Centre of Excellence which was constructed to support a range of physical, behavioural and intellectual special needs was the centrepiece of the various projects executed in the parish over the past year.

Other landmark ventures included: the Ramps in School Programme; the provision of 32 mobile science laboratories to as many high schools; the training of teachers of students with special needs; and partnerships with several community groups to expand entrepreneurial activities.

In its 12 years of existence, the Digicel Foundation has successfully implemented 737 projects at a cost of over $3 billion;as the organisation continues to work with dedicated partners in order to achieve Jamaica’s development goals.

The Digicel Foundation, a non-profit organisation, was established in September 2004 and is committed to supporting the development of Jamaica through a number of socially impactful projects.

The main objectives of the Digicel Foundation include driving efforts to achieve Jamaica’s Millennium Development Goal of increased literacy; the use of information and communication technology (ICT) tools and equipment in primary schools and increased training for teachers; enhancing the care of special needs children across the island in a variety of ways, including training for teachers; and the pursuit of sustainable projects and partnerships for community development.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Digicel-Jamaica-Foundation-reaches-800-000_77299

GraceKennedy Donates To Hurricane-Hit Haiti

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Hurricane-ravaged Haiti is to receive a donation valued at over J$2.5 million in non-perishable food items from GraceKennedy Ltd.

This donation is bound for Haiti through Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica, which recently made a public appeal for donations following the direct hit from Hurricane Matthew earlier this week.

Don Wehby, group chief executive officer of Grace-Kennedy Ltd, said that the company responded immediately to appeals for help for Haiti after seeing the extent of the destruction that occurred.

“What I have seen online and heard from Food For The Poor about the situation really breaks my heart. Jamaica escaped this storm, but several countries have really been hit and we all just have to come together and do what we can to bring relief at this time,” Wehby said.

He added: “Hurricane Matthew has again reminded us of how vulnerable our region is to the risk of extreme weather events. A different level or normal will be required of us all as we work out how to plan for these natural disasters, some of which, like Matthew, won’t follow normal or expected patterns.”

Among the items being donated are crates of porridge mixes, corned beef, sausages, mackerel, cheese, beans, juices and water products.

GraceKennedy staff are also planning to collect items of clothing and other essentials to send to Haiti through FFP Jamaica.

 

‘Needs Very Vast’

 

David Mair, executive director for FFP Jamaica, said the needs are so vast that all contributions are welcomed.

“We are touched by GraceKennedy’s response and thank the staff and leadership for this donation. This will help meet the very vast needs that are coming to our attention. While we are aware of the number of lives lost and have seen images of the damage, a full assessment is yet to be made, and so the loss of lives and damage are likely to be so much greater. We continue to be grateful to all Jamaicans who are making every effort to lend a hand at this time,” said Mair.

Other forms of contribution from GraceKennedy’s subsidiaries and partners are also under way.

Hi-Lo Food Stores has set up collection points at its 13 locations and is supporting FFP’s appeal for non-perishable items. All donations will be collected by FFP, which is organising shipment of items to Haiti. FFP’s Haiti office will handle distribution there.

 

 

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/lead-stories/20161008/gracekennedy-donates-hurricane-hit-haiti