FROM helping families rebuild after house fires to providing essential medical care for those who could not afford it, NCB Foundation is opening its 13th Grant a Wish season with $8.5 million set aside to help uplift Jamaicans once again.

This year marks an important shift for NCB Foundation’s annual Grant a Wish. The programme has moved away from its traditional structure of nominations, voting, and preset categories. Instead, applicants can submit one heartfelt wish for themselves, someone else, or an organisation, along with a simple explanation of why fulfilling it would make a meaningful difference.

“Life doesn’t always fit into categories,” said Perrin Gayle, CEO of NCB Foundation. “That’s why we’ve removed them entirely. NCB Foundation’s Grant a Wish is about meeting people where they are, listening to their stories, and offering meaningful support without unnecessary hurdles. We want this process to feel easy, open, and human because the needs are real, and so are the people behind them.”

Gayle added that this redesign reflects the spirit of the programme and the foundation’s commitment to fairness and access. He noted that the aim is to widen the opportunity for Jamaicans who may never have submitted a wish under the previous format or may still be having issues with connectivity.

“Some people simply do not have the time or comfort level to navigate voting links or categories. We want everyone to feel welcome to step forward and ask for help if they need it in a way that is easy and convenient,” he said.

While the programme supports a wide range of needs, NCB Foundation continues to focus on wishes where its support can create positive and lasting change. Requests that involve cash only, overseas travel, or anything that cannot be fulfilled safely will not be considered.

Wishes may be submitted online at www.jncb.com/grantawish or in person at participating NCB branches, where applicants can complete a form and place it in the Grant a Wish box.

This initiative runs alongside the recently launched Building a Better Jamaica Fund 2.0, created in response to Hurricane Melissa to support long-term recovery and resilience.