THE American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ) will, on June 18, distribute almost J$24.5 million in financial and pledged in-kind grants to a number of Jamaican non-profit organisations.

Sixteen grants will be presented at a luncheon hosted by US Ambassador Sue Cobb.

The largest cash grant will go to the MoBay Hope Medical Centre, which not only serves north coast tourists but also caters to about 100 Jamaicans per day, including many who are unable to pay.

Four grants, including proceeds from two new endowments, will go to the University of the West Indies (UWI).

The American Friends of Jamaica /Cobb Family Lecture Series will fund an annual lecture on leadership for Jamaica to be given by the UWI professor whose research on creative and innovative leadership strategies during that year is considered the most relevant and visionary for the country.

Meanwhile, the Ambassador Glen A Holden Bursary will be awarded each year to a needy UWI student who has demonstrated academic excellence. The Ralph and Ricky Lauren Bursaries will again be offered, as will the Ambassador J Gary Cooper Bursary.

The other organisations slated to benefit from the AFJ grants include: Associated Hanover Charities; Friends of Hopewell School; the Foundation for International Self-Help Development (Ja) Ltd; the Montego Bay Marine Park; Denham Town Community Centre; the Social Support Fund; the Jamaica Society for the Blind; Tools for Development; the Bluefields People’s Community Association; the Mona Rehabilitation Foundation; the New Roads Basic School in Westmoreland, and the Good Shepherd Foundation, whose Hope Hospice is a facility for AIDS patients.

As in previous years, Jockey International, which produces clothing at factories in Lucea and Sandy Bay and which is the largest employer in Hanover, has pledged a very large contribution of clothing to be distributed to non-profit entities across Jamaica. The distribution itself is carried out by

Project Help Jamaica under a grant from the AFJ.

Funds for the 16 grants that will be presented are mostly raised around the American Friends’ main annual event, a black-tie dinner that takes place in New York each fall.

“Our charity gala this year,” said AFJ Executive Director Lacy Wright, “will feature Jamaican-born businessman and philanthropist Michael Lee Chin as the evening’s honoree, and Finance Minister Omar Davies as guest of honour. We are planning for the best turnout ever.” The event is scheduled for November 4, 2004, at The Waldorf Astoria.

“We are pleased once again to be assisting a number of outstanding Jamaican organisations in the fields of education, health, and human and economic development, which have become our main areas of focus,” said former US ambassador to Jamaica Glen A Holden, who will preside over the June awards.

For the coming year, the AFJ will play a role in the I Pledge programme announced recently by Ambassador Cobb, Western Union and Grace, Kennedy. Funding of more than US$200,000 will be given to the AFJ, which will purchase math workbooks for primary schoolchildren throughout Jamaica. “We are extremely pleased,” said Ambassador Holden, “to have a part in such an innovative programme, especially since education is one of our areas of concentration.”

The AFJ has also begun a collaboration with JAMPRO, the two having hosted an investment-promotion event in Washington in April in honour of visiting Minister of Development Paul Robertson. “Both organisations,” said Mr Wright, “have the same purpose – the betterment of Jamaica.”