Tiffany Evans, the nine-year-old St Ann student who turned over $10,000 that she found on the bathroom floor, is finding out that honesty really pays.

On Friday, five leading members of the Ocho Rios business community presented her with $20,000 in cash and kind, twice the amount she had turned over to her teacher.

Head of Cool Corporation Joseph Issa was instrumental in organising the presentation. Issa, Paul Goldsmith of Car and Driver, Bobby Chandiram of Bijoux Jewellers, Ambassador Earl Carr of Lucky Charm, and Dr Osmond Tomlinson each donated $4,000 to the child’s mother Paula Saunders to help with Tiffany’s school expenses.

In addition, Ambassador Carr presented the young girl with a bag of gifts that included a xylophone, a recorder, a jigsaw puzzle of the parishes of Jamaica, a shell trinket box, a thermos, and other items. Dr Tomlinson pledged one year’s free health care for her.

“I think she exemplifies what we would hope for students of our country,” said Carr, who was Jamaica’s ambassador to Japan for about 10 years before he opened Lucky Charm last year.

Tiffany’s deed, coming as it did at a time when there was so much negative news, was an excellent example which he hopes other students would emulate, he said.

On December 9 last year, Tiffany found the money on the floor of the bathroom at her school, Priory Primary and Infant School. Just as her mother had taught her, she handed it over. Last Thursday the entire school community showed its appreciation by presenting her with a gift.

The story was carried in last Friday’s Daily Observer, emphasising Tiffany’s good deed even in the face of the financial strain her mother faces daily: Tiffany has been forced to skip school a few times because her mother simply could not afford to send her.

“I think the mother should be commended and complimented for helping her daughter to grow in such a wonderful way,” Ambassador Carr said.

For Dr Tomlinson, the gesture proves that honesty does pay.

“I think honesty definitely will pay and it has paid in this situation,” he said. The young girl and her mother were delighted by the businessmen’s gifts.

“I can’t explain, I am overjoyed. I’m happy for all that these young gentlemen have done for us,” said Saunders.

The Daily Observer article has also elicited responses from readers of the paper’s online edition, with several overseas readers offering to help the young girl who has proven that honesty really is the best policy.