THE theme — ‘FUN-spiration’ — set the stage Tuesday for a fun-filled day at Hope Zoo in Kingston as the J Wray and Nephew (JWN) Foundation hosted more than 600 children at its annual Christmas Treat for communities surrounding its Spanish Town Road business operation in Kingston.

Grade Six students from Seaview Gardens Primary, Balmagie Primary, Seaward Primary and Junior High, and St Patrick’s ran about cheerfully at the event marking yuletide festivities and stress relief, as the children break before their last lap to GSAT exams.

Bounce houses, painting stalls, mountain climbing and a tour of the Zoo on the Hope Express, numbered among the host of activities. There were even selfie posts, which each had an inspirational message that encouraged the children to ‘Dare to be Kind’, ‘Dare to be Confident’, ‘Dare to be Courageous’.

Each child was handed a gift package and there were a number of food and drink stalls that truly replenished the bouncing souls.

“We want you to grow from strength to strength,” said Clement ‘Jimmy’ Lawrence, chairman, JWN and JWN Foundation. “Be inspired and in everything that you do, do it with the confidence and belief that you are going to succeed.”

He added: “As you grow you must have integrity, you have to be true and you must also work hard to pass your exams.”

The activity was specifically geared towards students preparing for the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT), and Lawrence further encouraged the children to “work hard to earn one of our community scholarships”.

This year, the JWN Foundation quadrupled its scholarship offerings for secondary and tertiary-level students from 25 to 100.

School officials, as well as the Kiwanis Club of New Kingston that again supported the JWN Foundation Christmas Treat through volunteerism, voiced approval.

“As Kiwanians our motto is ‘Serving the children of the World’, so when this time of year comes around, service, volunteering to help these children, especially the ones from inner-city … it is a pleasure for us to see the smiles on their faces,” said Sandra Davis, president, Kiwanis Club of New Kingston.

“One young man asked me ‘if all of this was free, the food, everything’ and I said ‘yes’. It was like a light bulb switched on, just to see the joy on his face knowing he didn’t have to pay anything,” she added. “It’s a joy for us to be here today and to partner with the JWN Foundation.”

Seaview Gardens Primary’s Jay Miller Givans, who said she only teaches boys as they are more difficult to handle, noted the impact.

“When I look at the students and see how exuberant, how happy, how glad, how overwhelmed they are, this is showing me that this event has impacted the students somewhat,” said Miller Givans. “Also, when they’re back in their communities they do have little fairs and get-togethers and so on, but an event of this magnitude does not happen in their neck of the woods.”

Continuing, she said: “This is good, as it shows J Wray and Nephew does not only associate itself with liquor, but it also associates itself with aesthetics, academics and brilliance.”

Seaward’s librarian, Tian Bennett, shared: “Our exams for the term just ended on Friday (last week) so this is just relaxing the mind providing a nice little letdown. And in January, after the Christmas celebrations, they will have heavy stuff again in preparation for GSAT. I think it’s a really good venture. I’d like to thank J Wray and Nephew for this venture, it’s really good.”