The American Friends of Jamaica, Inc. (AFJ) continues to make an impact in Jamaica. The AFJ focused much of its efforts over the past year to responding forcefully to the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to continuing its work with donor advised, discretionary, and scholarship funds. Grants for the entire 2020-2021 grant period were up over 70% over the prior year for a total of US$1.75 million.
At the AFJ Grant Award Ceremony, on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at 3pm EDT, the AFJ presented its initial grants for the upcoming 2021-2022 grants cycle, totaling US$319,877.19 (JA$47,980,906.76). The ceremony included remarks from John McIntyre, U.S. Embassy Kingston Chargé d’Affaires, Howard Mitchell, Chairman of the National Health Fund, Wendy Hart, President of the AFJ, and more.
The full list of grants presented on Tuesday are The AFJ COVID-19 Vaccine Fund, Breds Treasure Beach Foundation, Bulls Savannah Primary, Church Teachers’ College – Hubert & Delsey Messam Scholarship, Consulate of Jamaica (Miami), Cornwall Regional Hospital, Creative Language-Based Learning, Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart Tourism & Hospitality Scholarship, Hope Zoo Kingston, Jamaica Conservation Partners, Jamaica Environmental Trust (JET), JSPCA, Mustard Seed, Rose Town Foundation, Sacred Heart Church, Savanna la Mar Hospital, Southern Basketball, St. Mary’s Roman Catholic School, TBR Lab, Together We Stand, and UWI Bursary/Scholarships Ralph & Ricky Lauren Family Foundation, Amb. Sue Cobb, Amb. Glen Holden, Amb. J. Gary Cooper, Kathleen and Mark Newman, Kevin Paul Akindelle Wright Scholarship.
“In a year of immense challenges across the globe, we are extremely grateful to our donors, supporters and partners for stepping forward and increasing their generosity to those in need,” Wendy Hart, President of the AFJ.
Donor-Directed Grants
| AFJ COVID-19 Vaccine Fund | $201,000.00 | To vaccinate underserved communities in Jamaica. |
| Breds Treasure Beach Foundation | $3,250.00 | Supports the activities of Breds including the Edu-sport program in schools and the marine sanctuary in Treasure Beach. |
| Bulls Savannah Primary | $6,000.00 | Bull Savannah Primary School is located in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica dedicated to providing technology advancement to primary students in Jamaica. |
| Church Teachers’ College – Hubert & Delsey Messam Scholarship | $2,100.00 | To fund tertiary level scholarships. |
| Consulate of Jamaica, Miami | $8,430.97 | To provide tablets and laptops for schools. |
| Cornwall Regional Hospital | $13,395.00 | Funds x-ray equipment for the children’s department. |
| Creative Language Based Learning | $10,000.00 | Provides professional development in research-validated methodologies for the early identification and support of children with language-based learning disabilities. |
| Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart Tourism & Hospitality Scholarship | $1,050.00 | Funds tertiary level scholarships. |
| Hope Zoo Kingston | $2,000.00 | Showcases local Jamaican and international animal species as part of their overall commitment to our planet’s wildlife conservation. |
| Jamaica Conservation Partners | $19,861.82 | Supports environmental conservation programs. |
| Jamaica Environmental Trust(JET) | $2,500.00 | To educate primary school children through the School’s Environment Programme (SEP) and to support Cockpit Country conservation. |
| JSPCA | $1,000.00 | Jamaica Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals (JSPCA) has been working in Jamaica for more than a hundred years, to protect animals from cruelty, neglect, injury and abandonment, and to defend and promote animal rights. |
| Mustard Seed in Memory of Oliver Clarke | $1,500.00 | Provides housing and food for disadvantaged children and children with disabilities. |
| Rose Town Foundation | $3,057.26 | Provides after-school programs for children and workshops for children and adults in the Rose Town Community in Kingston. |
| Sacred Heart Church | $10,000.00 | Operational support to remain engaged with congregation. |
| Savanna la Mar Hospital in Memory of Oliver Clarke | $500.00 | For equipment and supplies. |
| Southern Basketball | $5,000.00 | Provides a sport, life skill and conflict resolution program. |
| St. Mary’s Roman Catholic School | $10,000.00 | Provides early childhood education. |
| TBR Lab | $10,000.00 | Supports entrepreneurial labs. |
| Together We Stand/Jamaica’s Promise | $11,000.00 | Healthcare equipment and supplies for support of the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| UWI Bursary/Scholarships – Ralph & Ricky Lauren Family Foundation, Amb. Sue Cobb, Amb. Glen Holden, Amb. J. Gary Cooper, Kathleen and Mark Newman | $11,150.00 | Support education for students at the tertiary level. |
| UWI Bursary/Scholarships – Kevin Paul Akindelle Wright Scholarship | $1,855.00 | Supports education for students at the tertiary level. |
