IN a continued demonstration of corporate responsibility and commitment to education, EdgeChem invested $1.48 million in its back-to-school grant initiative which supported students across multiple parishes for the 2025-2026 academic year.

This year EdgeChem conducted handover exercises at select retail stores strategically chosen based on the parishes where the grant recipients reside.

These included the Fairfield retail store in Montego Bay, St James; the Molynes Road and Windward Road retail store in the Corporate Area; May Pen retail store in Clarendon, as well as stores in Drax Hall, St Ann, and Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland.

This approach enhanced accessibility, minimised travel for families, and strengthened the link between EdgeChem’s community engagement and its retail footprint.

The initiative targeted students across all educational levels with allocations determined based on individual need.

Additionally, grants were extended to five children under the Strong Fathers Foundation, fulfilling prior commitments from the company’s Father’s Day programme.

“Our investment in education is a deliberate and strategic choice,” said Doreen Frankson, founder and deputy executive chairman at EdgeChem.

“By aligning the back-to-school grant initiative with our retail operations, we not only deliver financial assistance where it is needed most, but we also reinforce EdgeChem’s position as a partner in national development. This initiative is about enabling access, reducing barriers, and building stronger communities,” added Frankson.

EdgeChem’s retail teams played an active role in the execution, with store supervisors facilitating presentations and engaging with beneficiaries, underscoring the company’s commitment to shared value and stakeholder relationships.

According to Frankson, this initiative forms part of EdgeChem’s broader corporate social investment strategy, which prioritises education, community development, and long-term capacity building.

“By equipping students with essential resources for academic success, EdgeChem continues to affirm its role as an organisation that invests not only in economic growth but also in human capital and social progress,” said Frankson.