The American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ) recently presented 47 local charities with grants totalling J$102 million. 

Following a rigorous evaluation process, the AFJ Grants Committee approved 47 applications to be awarded grants during the May 7 grant ceremony hosted by US Ambassador to Jamaica Nick Perry. 

Held at the United States Embassy in Kingston, the grants were presented to the beneficiary charities at the ceremony.

The list of grants beneficiaries includes Alpha School of Music, Bethel Baptist Church, BREDS – Treasure Beach Foundation, Busy Bee Educational Enrichment., Child Resiliency Program, VPA, Christel House Jamaica, Church Teachers College, Cornwall Regional Hospital/WRHA and Creative Language-Based Learning (CLBL), Project STAR, Rose Town Foundation, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Sagicor Foundation, Seprod Foundation and Southern Basketball Conference.

The beneficiaries also comprise Fight for Peace International, Friends of Hopewell, Half Way Tree Primary School, Institute of Jamaica, Jamaica Conservation & Development Trust, Jamaica Musical Theatre Company, Journey 2 Free, Lara Otunla Counseling Center, Lupus Foundation of Jamaica, Mission of Sight and Musson Foundation, St. Mary’s Preparatory School, St. Patrick’s Foundation/Riverton Meadows, Stand Up for Jamaica, STEM Boost Program, The University of the West Indies, Mona and Trench Town Primary.

The list is completed by National Education Trust- Level Up, National STEM Centre, UWI – Ambassador Sue M. Cobb Scholarship, UWI – Ambassador J. Gary Cooper Scholarship, UWI – Ambassador Glen Holden Scholarship, UWI Kathleen Newman Scholarship, UWI – Kevin Akindele Wright Scholarship, UWI – Klotz Family Scholarship, UWI – Margaret “Peggy” Steuart Scholarship, UWI – Ralph & Ricky Lauren Scholarship, UWI – Sydney A Phillips Scholarship, Violence Prevention Alliance, VM Foundation Limited, Youth Nutrition Program.

Executive director Caron Chung remarked, “The AFJ believes in reducing education inequity, investing in skills-building opportunities, and improving patient care. This year’s grants are an inclusive representation of our mission to impact Education, Healthcare, and Economic Development in Jamaica.” 

The AFJ’s grantmaking cycle begins in November, grantees are selected once per year. The AFJ is able to award grants from proceeds raised from annual fundraisers in New York and Miami, private foundations, corporate partnerships, donor-direct contributions, and the AFJ online giving platform.

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