MONTEGO BAY, St James

Daniel Reid will leave for Munro College in St Elizabeth on Sunday following overwhelming financial support from a number of companies and individuals.

Daniel, who hails from the crime-ridden inner-city community of Hendon, Glendevon in St James, had from an early age expressed a desire to attend Munro College, citing the large number of professionals who received their high school education at the institution.

The 12-year-old boy has worked diligently, under less than ideal conditions, in an effort to realise his dream.

In this year’s Grade Six Achievement Test he recorded an impressive average of 92 per cent, earning himself a well-deserved place at the school of his dreams, much to the delight of his mother and teacher at Albion Primary and Junior High.

It, however, later became evident that the youngster may not be able to further his education at Munro due to financial constraints.

But since the Jamaica Observer West highlighted Daniel’s plight in July, there has been a flood of help for the youngster.

The latest came last week when he received a $251,000 grant from Restaurant Associates Limited, operators of Burger King and Popeye’s.

Daniel was among 38 students who benefited from just over $3.5 million in scholarships, grants and bursaries issued by the company at its 15th annual scholarship awards ceremony in Kingston.

“Chairman of Restaurant Associates Limited, Mrs Lois Sherwood, saw his story in the Jamaica Observer and was moved to help the promising youngster realise his dream. She says his determination at such a young age inspired her to recommend him for the Burger King GSAT scholarship grant,” said the company in a release. “That drive should assist him in excelling in his studies at Munro. It’s clear he picked the school because he wanted to be associated with excellence.”

Meanwhile, Daniel’s mother, Renesha Crewe, said she is grateful for Burger King’s assistance to her son.

“We really didn’t know where the money was going to come from. I was shocked when I got the package at the school. I didn’t know going to Munro would cost so much. I’m thankful that Burger King has given him this opportunity, and he knows he will have to work very hard when he gets to school,” she said.

Sales and Marketing Manager at Restaurant Associates Ltd Sabrena McDonald Radcliffe said the company is always inspired by young people doing well.

“We wanted to ensure he had a comfortable space at Munro which would enable him to continue doing well in his studies. We certainly expect great things from him. His kind of drive for excellence is just the attitude the company has been committed to over the last 15 years of the scholarship programme,” she said.

The Burger King National Scholarship Programme was started in 2001 and was the brainchild of the company’s chairman Lois Sherwood.

The scholarship programme has for the past 15 years provided educational support to students who have performed exceptionally well at both the primary and secondary level.

Apart from Restaurant Associates Ltd, Daniel has also received assistance from Wisynco-Group, the Ministry of Education, Member of Parliament for Central St James Lloyd B Smith and several other organisations and individuals.