KINGSTON, Jamaica — CHASE Fund Chied Executive Officer, W Billy Heaven says the organisation has funded 3,725 projects totalling $17 billion in the past 15 years of its establishment.

The CEO, who was speaking at a special anniversary church service held at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Kingston last week, informed that over the years $4.3 billion went to education, $3.7 billion went to health and $2.7 billion to arts and culture; with $6.3 bllion to sports via a pass through to the Sports Development Foundation.

“As I look back at the growth and impact of the organisation through our pioneering efforts over the years, I am extremely proud of what we have achieved,” he said.

CHASE Fund was incorporated by the Government on November 25, 2002 to receive, administer and manage funds set aside for good causes in the areas of culture, health, arts, sports and education. Heaven also noted the Fund’s appreciation of its partners whose contributions assisted to address some “very vital and critical needs in the society”.

“Our contribution is evident in many spheres, among them being the enhanced infrastructure of schools and health facilities; the application of new, state-of-the-art equipment; as well as, strengthened capacity. At another level, skills have been improved; talented and outstanding students have gained access to tertiary education and advanced training, the cost of which would, otherwise, be beyond their reach; and service delivery has been refined in critical sectors of national life.”

Heaven also added that he is optimistic that the Fund will continue to have a significant impact.

CHASE said in his remarks to the congregation, Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator Ruel Reid, noted that the Fund had made great strides in achieving some of its national objectives particularly in the area of training early childhood practitioners.

Reid added that the Fund’s efforts to improve early childhood institutions (ECIs) had helped in attaining their compliance with legal criteria required under the Early Childhood Commission’s 12 Operating Standards.

Meanwhile, Archbishop of Kingston, Reverend Kenneth Richards said that the CHASE Fund had done much to uplift the lives of others through its work which included the restoration of the dome of the Cathedral.