KINGSTON, Jamaica — Nine State-run children’s homes are among 25 institutions benefitting from a J$6.5 million corporate social responsibility programme being undertaken by microfinance agency, Access Financial Services Limited.

The initiative, dubbed ‘Access Hope’, is part of the entity’s 25th anniversary celebration. It was officially launched at the company’s headquarters in Kingston on May 21.

Under the initiative, the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) received $2.25 million on behalf of the nine children’s homes, while community groups and schools across the island were awarded grants of $250,000 each, totalling $6.25 million.

The donation to the CPFSA was welcomed by the agency’s Director of Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Newton Douglas, who represented Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Laurette Adams-Thomas, at the launch.

“Access Financial Services’ donation to support the education of our children in nine of our residential childcare homes is a gift that will make a real difference in their lives,” he said, noting that Access Hope represents an investment in Jamaica’s future.

Meanwhile, Access Financial’s CEO, Hugh Campbell, emphasised that the company is on a mission to inspire hope and power possibilities for Jamaican communities.

“When this business was established 25 years ago in 2000, our founder, Marcus James, had a clear vision of what he wanted to achieve. That was, meaningful impact on the lives of Jamaicans, not just through the provision of accessible loan financing, but also through support for our communities,” Campbell affirmed.

He expressed the hope that the funds donated to the CPFSA will help offset educational expenses for wards of the State, thereby enabling the agency to allocate its limited resources elsewhere.

— JIS