GRACEKENNEDY Group’s chief executive officer Don Wehby has called on corporate entities and private individuals to support the fourth staging of the GraceKennedy Education 5K Run/Walk on July 8.

Speaking at the Institute of Jamaica Lecture Hall in Downtown Kingston, Wehby urged the public to join the Grace and Staff Community Development Foundation in its quest to raise funds to improve the opportunity for better education across the island.

“Come out and run and walk for education on Sunday, July 8. Support GraceKennedy as we continue to support Jamaica,” he said at last Tuesday’s launch.

“The foundation of every nation is the education of its youth, and so education has been a main area of focus for GraceKennedy, as we continue to contribute to nation-building.

“I want to salute the vision of the founders of the Grace and Staff Community Development Foundation… In 1979 when the initiative was started, it was dreamt that this Foundation would make a difference in the lives of thousands of young people and adults alike, in the inner-city communities in which we operate. What has been achieved since then has been nothing short of amazing. I am filled with pride every time I speak about it,” Wehby added.

The Community Development Foundation aims at easing poverty among the unemployed, supporting community activities, fostering a spirit of volunteerism and facilitating the education of the dependents of the destitute.

According to Wehby, the many success stories include the 446 high school and tertiary level students receiving scholarships from Grace and Staff. He declared that last year’s Run raised $3.4m, which went towards tuition fees for students benefiting from the various initiatives.

Mayor Angella Brown-Burke, who made the keynote presentation, said as a product of the inner city, she understands the needs of many persons living within those communities and lauded Grace for its contribution to education.

Senator Brown-Burke also stressed the importance of trust at all levels of society.

This year’s five-kilometre (3.1 miles) run, which is set to commence at 7:00 am at the GraceKennedy headquarters on Harbour Street, will proceed easterly across to South Camp Road to the Norman Manley Boulevard round-a-bout onto Port Royal Street; left onto East Street, then a right into Nethersole Place; left onto Ocean Boulevard, around to Water Lane, along Pechon Street, around to King, Tower and then Church Street before heading back along Harbour Street to the finishing line.

The entry fee is $800 for individuals and $700 for each head for teams with 50 or more persons. Payments can be made at GraceKennedy Limited, or at First Global Bank branches in New Kingston and downtown Kingston. Registration closes on June 15.