WHEN Kevaun Birthfield opened the e-mail from the Grace & Staff Community Development Foundation back in 2018, he stopped cold in his tracks. He had been awarded financial support for his university studies. As he had begun preparing for college, his family wondered how they would manage tuition and housing, and here was the answer they sought, timely, almost providential.

“I vividly remember reading the e-mail and becoming emotional,” he recalled. “It felt like divine intervention.”

For his mother, who had worked at GraceKennedy since the 1990s, it was more than relief. It was, as he put it, “a full-circle moment”. After years of service to the financial and foods conglomerate, she watched the same organisation invest in her son’s future.

That moment set in motion a journey that would carry Birthfield from a university student to his current role as client care services associate at GK General Insurance (GKGI).

More than the money

But the scholarship was more than just about money. It was, as he describes, “affirmation”.

“It allowed me to focus on my studies without the constant anxiety of how the next semester would be funded,” he said. Beyond tuition, Birthfield recollected how he also benefited from the GraceKennedy Foundation’s GK Campus connect food bank whilst at university, which he calls “nothing short of a lifeline”.

The food bank, which was founded in April 2019, has helped close to 8,000 students get healthy meals whilst focusing on their studies. Its aim? To end hunger on college campuses in Jamaica.

“There were periods when I had little or nothing to eat, yet I still had to attend classes and perform academically,” he admitted. “The support restored dignity and reminded me that someone cared.”

Those seemingly tiny yet mighty interventions gave him the confidence to engage fully in academics, explore leadership opportunities, and start seeing himself not just as a student, but as a future changemaker. This, he says, has helped him find purpose in his calling at GKGI.

Building a career at GraceKennedy Financial Group

After graduating from the University of Technology, Jamaica, with a degree in general management and a minor in accounting, his next step felt natural: joining the very company that had invested in him. And while insurance was not his first calling, like most who join the business, he’s learnt much along the way. As the first in his family to earn a university degree, he believes joining the GraceKennedy family was both an honour and a responsibility.

“Being accepted into GraceKennedy felt like being admitted into an Ivy League institution,” he said. “It was significant to me.” He aims to make every use of the GK opportunity, making the customer journey memorable.

“A typical day demands problem-solving, empathy, and multitasking,” he explained. “I want every client’s experience to reflect the professionalism and customer focus of the GraceKennedy Financial Group.”

His day-to-day role involves guiding clients through the claims process, verifying documentation, and ensuring accuracy and empathy at every stage.

Birthfield is thankful for those who positively influenced him, including the late retired CEO of GraceKennedy Group, Don Wehby.

“Don Wehby’s leadership left a lasting impression on me,” he said, noting the emphasis on integrity and servant leadership.

He also credits Claims Manager Kelli-Anne Reid for her patience and guidance. “Her mentorship has empowered me to thrive in my role and continue evolving.”

Speaking on the impact Birthfield has had and his full-circle moment, Chaluk Richards, general manager for GKGI, said it’s a powerful reflection of GKGI’s commitment to nurturing talent and fulfilling its corporate social responsibility.

“His story shows how strategic investment in youth can yield full-circle outcomes,” he added.

Across the GraceKennedy Group, the long-term impact of investing in the next generation goes beyond academics, it demonstrates how educational support translates into real-world success, growth, and brand ambassadorship.

Today, Birthfield is as committed to giving back. He mentors younger colleagues, volunteers in community outreach, and represents GraceKennedy Financial Group as its chief good moves ambassador, a role that highlights wellness, community engagement, and positive change.

For the company, stories like Birthfield’s are a demonstration of its ‘We Care’ ethos in action. Richards emphasised, “These narratives highlight the long-term impact of investing in the next generation. They show how our support translates into real-world success, growth, and loyalty.”

In Birthfield’s journey, the lines between scholarship, career, and service blur into one — reflecting both personal perseverance and GraceKennedy’s commitment to shaping futures.

Ahead of the 2025/2026 academic year, GraceKennedy, through its Grace & Staff Community Development Foundation and GraceKennedy Foundation, has invested over $70 million in scholarships, bursaries, and other educational support in Jamaican students. The GK Foundation also continues to operate the GK Campus Connect Food Bank on Jamaican university campuses, providing critical assistance to students in need.