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Toni Thorne - Philanthropist, entrepreneur and inspiration
Monday, November 02, 2009
AT a time when youths are being bombarded with negative influences and unproductive choices, Toni Thorne, 22-year-old aspiring lawyer and CEO of Bajan company BoUik, shows us that enterprise and entrepreneurship can provide a substantial part of the solution. She describes BoUik as a "fashion line with a twist" and explains that the profits are used to fund her philanthropic interests - in particular the issue of HIV/AIDS.
Her latest project, "Martha's Smile" (the initiative for Martha's Home) is a reflection of Thorne's attachment to the issue.
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| THORNE...I hope to fund music and dance lessons for a minimum of one year for the children (Photo: Lionel Rookwood) |
With the prevalence of HIV/AIDS which continues to affect our Caribbean community, Thorne has made the first step in what she describes as a regional effort to make a difference. She credits her involvement in the HIV/AIDS awareness film, Secrets, as one of her many motivations for the project and explains the main purpose of the initiative.
"Martha's Home is an orphanage in Kingston that houses children with HIV/AIDS and with the profits from BoUik I hope to fund music and dance lessons for a minimum of one year for the children."
Thorne went on to explain that in an unfortunate incident earlier this year, the home was destroyed by fire. After receiving much exposure for BoUik from Caribbean Fashion Week and from other industry-related events, she felt compelled to give back to the Jamaican community by spearheading the restoration project.
The children received clothing donations from some of Jamaica's most noted designers - Camesha Powell, Keneea Linton and Carlton Brown, to name a few. Thorne then held an art day where the children were allowed to paint and dye the clothes for an exhibit she later showcased at the Jamaica Pegasus rooftop. The children of Martha's Home watched with pride as their pieces were featured on the runway boldly displaying the passion and intensity of the work put into them.
Thorne laughs as she modestly refers to herself as a 'businesswoman' and not a 'fashion designer', claiming that she was never formally trained in the fashion industry, albeit still competing as one of the best in the region.
- Kandi King
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