MONTEGO BAY, St James — Intent on wading through red tape to swiftly help those in need, Fresh Bread Ministries International (FBMI) on Wednesday launched the Bishop Philemon Scholarship Fund with a start-up of $1 million.

Named in memory of the late Bishop Philemon Samuels, who passed away earlier this year, the fund will provide support to two people annually — one from within FBMI and one from the wider St James community.

The first beneficiary is a third-year student of Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College in St James, who is also a former ward of the State. Her name is being withheld to protect her privacy. The teacher in training will receive a $300,000 scholarship during the church’s 25th Anniversary Fundraising Banquet scheduled to be held in October at Iberostar Hotel, Rose Hall.

The scholarship is expected to cover 60 per cent of the school expenses of the student who has come a long way from her years at Montego Bay Community Home for Girls, popularly referred to as Melody House.

Speaking as she chaired Wednesday’s scholarship fund launch ceremony, member of FBMI’s 25th anniversary committee Gloria Henry stressed that children’s home residents are individuals with dreams and potential waiting to be unlocked.

“When we invest in them, we are not just [providing] financial aid, we are giving affirmation and planting a seed that will grow and continue to support the entire community,” she told those gathered.

“Supporting children in State care, I don’t want to look at it as charity. It is a responsibility for us as members of the community to take on. It is an extension of the philosophy of Fresh Bread Ministries which operates several charities that extend into South America, Central America and of course, here into Jamaica,” added Henry.

Local philanthropic efforts by FBMI include biweekly distribution of groceries, along with providing a hot meal to those on the street every fifth Saturday, service through medical missions, distribution of clothing and other supplies to the needy, and support to children in the King Street and Gully areas of downtown Montego Bay through a programme called Children of Destiny.

Bishop Philemon’s wife of 33 years, Olga Samuels, said they have brought nine people into their home to be a part of their family over the years.

“We shared all that we had,” she said, adding that her husband, who was a trained teacher, was also a big supporter of education.

“That is why he initiated and supported different programmes [such] as Children of Destiny. We really wanted to make sure that in a church you should not have to wait on a committee. If someone has a need, you should not have to wait and have a committee [meet] five weeks down the road to be able to minister to someone’s needs. If you have a need, we must be able to meet it now. If you need to pay a bill, we must be able to help you pay it now,” explained Samuels.

Before he died, her husband served as board chairman for Rusea’s High School in Hanover, his native parish, as well as Howard Cooke Primary in St James.

During Wednesday’s event, president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) Jason Russell spoke of the importance of the church and the organisation he leads working together for a better society. He said both the chamber and his family business, Pier One, have thrown their full support, in principle, behind the scholarship fund.

“You are the guiding star and we see society and businesses lose their compass and spin while making money. The partnership between the church, the chamber of commerce — and this initiative in particular — is just and timely. We need to outreach, we need to align business and charity and the church,” said the chamber president.

He gave a commitment to have dialogue with his board, which has diverse views about how its resources are allocated, for a decision on its level of involvement with the scholarship fund.

“Fortunately for us, we are in a wonderful society, as far as I see, in terms of making money, growth, infrastructure build out — just an overall wellness of our economy and the chamber is feeling that. So I can’t see why we can’t ensure that we are giving back,” stated Russell, who emphasised that the more than 39-year-old Pier One will do its part.