NEW YORK, USA — Children of Jamaica Outreach (COJO), the US-based charity that has given over a million dollars in support to children, including current and former wards of the State in Jamaica, was hailed for giving countless young people an opportunity to dream, thrive, and achieve greatness by head of Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) Laurette Adams-Thomas.

Adams-Thomas said COJO is more than an organisation, “it’s a movement that has impacted many children in Jamaica”. She hailed the organisation for its 30 years of unwavering dedication, generosity and love.

She was giving remarks at COJO’s 30th annual scholarship gala and awards held at The Inn at Fox Hollow, Long Island, Saturday.

“For three decades COJO has been a pillar of hope, bridging the gap for Jamaica’s most vulnerable children,”she said. “Under the leadership of Chairman Gary Williams, COJO has gone above beyond, providing not only tangible resources but also opportunities that change their lives forever.”

She said from its early days of providing school supplies for children, to building the library at Glenhope Children’s Home in 2009, to the transformative impact of its scholarship programme, COJO’s contributions have been outstanding.

COJO has over the years raised more than US$1 million, changing the trajectory of countless young lives by granting access to education, health care, infrastructure and technology. For the last three decades the charity has also provided scholarships and critical assistance to children in need, particularly in Jamaica. For children in State care, there has been over US$300,000 in donations to date, helping to fund education, supply school materials, and ensure they have the tools they need to succeed. A portion is given towards CPFSA’s transitional living programme, to ensure that financial support is available to assist youngsters pursuing tertiary education.

Beyond scholarships, COJO has funded computer labs, laptops, and school infrastructure — resources that bridge the digital divide and equip students to excel.

“These scholarships are not just funding their education, they have instilled confidence and belief in young people,” Adams-Thomas explained. “We see it in their faces, in the confidence that they would exude when they realise they’re not alone and [that] there are persons who care for them.”

She said many former wards who had questioned whether higher education was within their reach at all are now walking across graduation stages, standing tall in their chosen professions, and making meaningful contributions to society.

“This is the impact of COJO, this is the power of community,“ she said. “Today, many of those beneficiaries have gone on to become doctors, lawyers, dentists, entrepreneurs and leaders in various fields. This is why we must continue to support this incredible vision.”

She reminded the audience of donors that when they invest in a child in Jamaica, they invest in the future of the entire nation.

“I encourage everyone — whether you’re an individual donor, a business leader or a supporter of this cause — to continue investing in the lives of our children,” she said. “It is not just charity, it is the key to breaking a cycle of disadvantage and creating new pathways for success. It takes a village to raise a child, and COJO has been a part of this village for 30 years and, with your help, it will continue for generations to come.“

Williams, for his part, said growing up in Jamaica and later migrating to the United States, he saw first-hand the boundless opportunities that existed in America.

“It became clear to me that the same opportunities should also be accessible to children back home — children with talent, ambition and dreams waiting to be realised. That belief is at the heart of COJO’s mission… When we invest in the future of Jamaican children, — through education, infrastructure and technology — we uplift families, strengthen communities, and ultimately create a better Jamaica and a better world for all.”

— Petulia Clarke