The JWN Foundation•Articles by: JWN Foundation

Author: JWN Foundation

JWN Foundation Continues Its Record Impact In Battle Against Period Poverty

The JWN Foundation further expanded its fight against period poverty last week as it distributed 2,016 menstrual kits to women and girls across Kingston, Clarendon, and St. Elizabeth on April 2nd and 3rd. This marked the largest distribution effort in the campaign’s history, demonstrating the foundation’s heightened and continuous commitment to addressing this critical public health issue.

The two-day distribution drive reached 17 schools and 4 care facilities, including primary and secondary institutions such as Seaview Gardens Primary and Maxfield Park Children’s Home in Kingston, Racecourse Primary in Clarendon, and Sydney Pagon High School in St. Elizabeth. The initiative built upon the foundation’s long-standing #EndPeriodPoverty campaign that has been tackling menstrual inequity since 2020.

With this latest distribution, the JWN Foundation has now donated over 13,297 sanitary products to nearly 9,000 females across Jamaica, representing significant growth in the foundation’s’ social inclusion impact. Social Inclusion as a pillar of the foundation seeks to create the ability and opportunity for girls from underserved communities to have access to products and services that will enhance their daily activities.

“Every girl deserves dignity during her menstrual cycle, and no student should miss school because of a lack of sanitary napkins,” said Marsha Haughton, Director of the JWN Foundation. “What made this year’s initiative particularly impactful was not just the increased number of beneficiaries, but also the enhanced quality of our menstrual kits, which included not just sanitary napkins but also liners and disposable wipes, along with educational components about proper hygiene practices delivered by our nurses and company doctor.”

The expanded initiative followed the success of the Foundation’s “Spirited Women” Luncheon held in March to commemorate International Women’s Day, which was celebrated under the theme “Accelerate Action” — focusing on forging the way toward women’s equality and celebrating women’s achievements.

This year’s drive was executed in partnership with T. Geddes Grant and supported by a dedicated network of over 40 volunteers across the three parishes. Staff volunteers visited schools and community institutions during the designated times, providing both supplies and vital education about menstrual health.

“T. Geddes Grant has been a proud partner of the JWN Foundation’s #EndPeriodPoverty initiative since 2023, and this year’s expanded reach truly demonstrates what’s possible when corporate entities join forces for social good,” said Latasha Hitchman, Trade Relationship Manager of Kotex at T. Geddes Grant (Dist.). “As a company that has been distributing Kotex products to Jamaicans for over 10 years, we recognize that addressing period poverty is not merely a health issue but an economic and educational imperative, which feeds into the Kotex’s slogan ‘She can’. The feedback from schools about improved attendance and confidence among female students confirms that our partnership is creating meaningful change.”

“Period poverty continues to be an invisible struggle for many young women in Jamaica,” continued Haughton. “Teachers across the schools we visited reported that girls would miss several days of school monthly during their cycle due to a lack of proper menstrual products. The feedback we received during this distribution was overwhelming, with school administrators reporting that our donations and motivational sessions directly supports their efforts to improve female student attendance, welfare and participation,” she shared.

She continued, “This initiative directly supports our social inclusion pillar by creating an inclusive environment for women and girls in our communities through promoting menstrual equity,” Haughton added. “We at the JWN Foundation demonstrated that by empowering women and providing them with necessary resources, we can make a significant difference in their lives. Through this distribution, we not only provided products but also dignity and opportunity to these young girls.”

At secondary schools like Garvey Maceo High in Clarendon, where 392 female students received menstrual kits, the school’s principal Erica Ewbanks highlighted another dimension of the program’s impact: “Beyond the physical products, the educational component addressing hygiene practices and menstrual health has fostered more open conversations about a topic that has long been taboo in our communities. This is social transformation happening in real time, she stated.

The distribution also reached vulnerable populations at care facilities, including Maxfield Park Children’s Home in Kingston, Mustard Seed Communities, Clarendon Infirmary, and St. Elizabeth Infirmary, demonstrating the foundation’s commitment to leaving no woman behind regardless of circumstance.

The JWN Foundation operates under three pillars – education, culture and social inclusion – and focuses its attention in areas surrounding its business operations at Spanish Town Road in Kingston: New Yarmouth in Clarendon and Appleton Estate in St Elizabeth.

JWN Foundation empowers 199 Students with Scholarships to Shape a Brighter Future

The JWN Foundation (JWNF) proudly announces the awarding of scholarships to 199 exceptional students from the communities surrounding its parent company, J. Wray & Nephew Limited (JWN). This initiative underscores the foundation’s commitment to its slogan, “Transforming Lives and Communities for a Better Jamaica,” and underscores its commitment to fostering educational advancement and community development.

The scholarships, valued at a total of J$22,240,000, represent a notable increase from last year’s disbursement of J$19,280,000, highlighting the foundation’s ongoing dedication to educational advancement. Since the program’s inception in 2016, the JWN Foundation has awarded over 2,000 scholarships with a combined value exceeding J$167,000,000, empowering students across Jamaica to reach their full potential.

This year’s scholarship recipients come from the very communities where JWN has its operations. These students have demonstrated remarkable academic achievements and are poised to make significant contributions to their communities and beyond.

“The JWN Foundation is proud to support these bright young minds as they pursue their educational goals,” said Tanikie McClarthy Allen, CEO of the JWN Foundation. “Investing in education is investing in the future of Jamaica. We are committed to nurturing talent and fostering opportunities that will lead to positive, lasting change in our communities.

The JWN Foundation’s scholarship program not only helps alleviate the financial burden of education but also empowers students to excel academically and personally. By providing these opportunities, the foundation continues to play a crucial role in shaping a prosperous future for Jamaica.

JWN Foundation expands agro-preneurship programme

SOURCE: The Jamaica Observer

The J Wray & Nephew Foundation (JWNF) has this year expanded its “Agro-preneurship” programme, leveraging key partnerships to enhance community development and economic empowerment across Jamaica.

The programme, following a successful launch in St Elizabeth back in 2021, has, for 2024, been extended to Kingston and Clarendon, aiming to provide comprehensive support to aspiring agro-preneurs while offering financial education, skills training and essential resources.

The initiative, which focuses on establishing sustainable poultry farming ventures, has for this year’s staging received additional contributions and noteworthy partnership support from entities such as the JN Bank, HEART/NSTA Trust and Nutramix.

Nutramix has been named the official title sponsor this year.

Following the distribution of chicken starter kits to at-risk groups in St Elizabeth communities, the programme’s expansion, which got underway in the additional parishes last month, sees over 100 agro-preneurs across communities presented with packages consisting of baby chicks, broiler pellet and crumble, feeder pan along with packets of vitamins and stress mix. Additionally, the recipients were also gifted with grocery bags of essential items for their families.

The JWN Foundation has a long history of ‘transforming lives and communities for a better Jamaica’ said it has since inception in 2012 donated to schools, hospitals, and other organisations in need. Beneficiary communities under the 2024 edition of the agro-preneurship programme include: Waterhouse, Seaview Gardens, Riverton, Henley Road in the Corporate Area and Gimme-Me-Bit, Racecourse, Water Lane, Vernamfield, York Town, and Milk River in Clarendon. The expansion of the programme, which comes as a testament to the Foundation’s unwavering commitment to community development, seeks to further increase the capacity of local farmers as it ensures food security while fostering economic resilience in Jamaica.

“This initiative started a vision to empower community members through sustainable agri-business practices and what we are now witnessing is an expansion of the fruits of our labour as more families embark on the path to self-reliance and entrepreneurial success. The expansion to Kingston and Clarendon is not just a milestone for us, but a great signal to the opportunities for aspiring agro-preneurs across Jamaica,” commented CEO of JWN Foundation Tanikie McClarthy Allen.

“Over 40 farming families in Clarendon have already benefited from the programme and many more in Kingston will now have the opportunity to enhance their livelihoods. By empowering our local farmers, we are fostering economic growth, job creation, and improved standards of living as we equip persons with the necessary resources and support to establish sustainable and profitable poultry ventures,” she added.

Touting the success of the programme, Marsha Thompson, a resident and beneficiary from Gimme-Me-Bit, Clarendon, lauded its impact as life-changing.

“This initiative has impacted my life so much because this is what I have been doing for a living for over five years and this contribution from the JWN Foundation is very timely as the last time I bought some chickens, a mongoose came in and ate them all. With this opportunity I’m now able to build back as I also continue to put into my restaurant business in Vernamfield,” she said.

“The donation from the JWN Foundation will go a long way in supporting our community and our need to start a small business so that we can sell and buy more so that our business can expand. Ultimately, it’s bigger and better for us. I even have plans to build a bigger ‘chicken coob’ in my backyard,” shared Anneika Bailey, another resident of Clarendon.

This year’s programme, which seeks to equip individuals with the necessary resources and knowledge on sustainable farming practices, also teaches them how to operate a financially sound and profitable agri-business venture.

Diamond King, youth banking officer for partnerships & engagement at JN Bank, in highlighting the importance of the initiative, said that the financial empowerment of people is crucial to the country’s economic success.

“JN Bank is committed to supporting entrepreneurs across various sectors, including agriculture. We applaud the JWNF for leading this agro-preneurship initiative and are grateful for the opportunity to partner with them to educate entrepreneurs about our financial solutions.

“The information we have shared with the beneficiaries has been well received, and several participants have already expressed an interest in learning more about how we can assist them financially, so we are eager to build on this collaboration in the future,” King noted.

Ronique Rhoden, director of community engagement at HEART/NSTA Trust, in similarly highlighting the alignment between the initiative and her entity’s mission, said it opens the portal for the human development agency to offer training that will improve the social and economic well-being of community members.

“The beneficiaries are excited to be trained by the trust on how to become better micro, small and medium-sized business. Through this programme they are being given the opportunity to develop their skills and to better themselves, their families and communities,” Rhoden stated.

J Wray and Nephew mobilises hurricane relief for affected communities

SOURCE: The Jamaica Observer

J Wray & Nephew Limited (JWN) has launched an immediate relief operation to support communities neighbouring its operations in Clarendon, St Elizabeth, and Kingston, in the wake of the devastation left by Hurricane Beryl on July 3.

The company has deployed mobile generators within five communities to provide light and aid in charging essential devices, to ensure communication continuity. It has also made available potable water to residents affected by infrastructural damage or water supply shortages.

Additionally, JWN Foundation, in partnership with Lasco Chin Foundation, is distributing food packages containing essential non-perishable items to families in Kingston, Clarendon, and St Elizabeth.

“Hurricane Beryl has had a devastating effect on the parishes of Clarendon and St Elizabeth, home to two of our production sites — Appleton Estate and New Yarmouth distilleries. Over the last few days we have been diligently working to assess the situation and coordinate our efforts. We are now working closely with local authorities and have mobilised resources — including water, food, and generators — to provide essential support such as charging cellular phones and other critical devices within the affected areas,” a company release quotes Tanikie McClarthy Allen, senior director, public affairs and sustainability.

The relief efforts are focusing on areas near JWN’s facilities, including Seaview Gardens, Waterhouse and Henley Road in Kingston; Gimme-Me-Bit, Milk River and Racecourse in Clarendon; and Siloah, Aberdeen, and Appleton in St Elizabeth.

The company said that its employees, through JWN Foundation, “have volunteered to assist in the packaging and distribution efforts, demonstrating JWN’s commitment to community service”.

“We are actively monitoring the situation and will continue to assess how we can best continue supporting the recovery efforts,” Allen said, adding that relief efforts are nothing strange to J Wray & Nephew.

“In 2021, in the fight against COVID-19, we were quick to respond, and through our collective efforts with all JWN affiliates we donated over $516 million to the COVID-19 response call,” she said.

Allen said that while the road to recovery from Hurricane Beryl may be challenging, J Wray & Nephew stands ready to support its neighbours every step of the way.

“Should persons wish to help with our response, please visit www.JWNfoundation.org and donate to our foundation to aid our relief efforts,” Allen said.

The company said it plans to continue its support in the coming weeks as the full extent of the hurricane’s impact becomes clear.

 

Wray & Nephew mobilises hurricane relief efforts

SOURCE: Our Today

In the wake of devastating Hurricane Beryl, J. Wray & Nephew Limited (JWN) has launched an immediate relief operation to support communities surrounding its operations in Clarendon, St. Elizabeth and Kingston, to rehabilitate and restore activity in the communities.

The company has deployed mobile generators within five communities to provide electricity and aid in charging essential devices to ensure communication continuity. Wray & Nephew has also made available potable water where needed to residents affected by infrastructural damage or water supply shortages.

Additionally, the JWN Foundation in partnership with the Lasco Chin Foundation is distributing food packages containing essential non-perishable items to families in the parishes of Kingston, Clarendon, and St Elizabeth.

“Hurricane Beryl has had a devastating effect on the parishes of Clarendon and St. Elizabeth, home to two of our production sites Appleton Estate and New Yarmouth Distilleries. Over the last few days, we have been diligently working to assess the situation and coordinate our efforts,” said Tanikie McClarthy Allen, senior director of public affairs and sustainability at J. Wray & Nephew Limited.

“We are now working closely with local authorities and have mobilised resources, including water, food, and generators, to provide essential support such as charging cellular phones and other critical devices within the affected areas,” she explained further.

The relief efforts are focusing on these especially affected areas near JWN’s facilities, including Seaview Gardens, Waterhouse and Henley Road in St Andrew; Gimme-Me-Bit, Milk River and Racecourse in Clarendon; and Siloah, Aberdeen, Appleton in St. Elizabeth among communities on the southern section of the parish.

Company employees, through the JWN Foundation, have volunteered to assist in the packaging and distribution efforts.

McClarthy Allen said, “We are actively monitoring the situation and will continue to assess how we can best continue supporting the recovery efforts. Relief efforts are no stranger to J. Wray & Nephew. In 2021, in the fight against COVID-19, we were quick to respond and through our collective efforts with all JWN affiliates, we donated over $516 million to the COVID-19 response call. While the road to recovery may be challenging, J. Wray & Nephew stands ready to support our neighbours every step of the way. Should persons wish to help with our response, please visit www.jwnfoundation.org and donate to our foundation to aid our relief efforts.”

The company plans to continue its support in the coming weeks as the full extent of the hurricane’s impact becomes clear.

J. Wray & Nephew Limited mobilises hurricane relief efforts in Jamaica

SOURCE: Loop News

In the wake of the devastation of Hurricane Beryl that recently swept across Jamaica, J. Wray & Nephew Limited (JWN) has launched an immediate relief operation to support communities surrounding its operations in Clarendon, St Elizabeth and Kingston, to rehabilitate and restore activity in the communities.

The company has deployed mobile generators within five communities to provide light and aid in charging essential devices to ensure communication continuity. They have also made available potable water (if needed) to residents affected by infrastructural damage or water supply shortages.

Additionally, JWN Foundation in partnership with the Lasco Chin Foundation is distributing 400 food packages containing essential non-perishable items to families in Kingston, Clarendon, and St Elizabeth.

“Hurricane Beryl has had a devastating effect on the parishes of Clarendon and St Elizabeth, home to two of our production sites Appleton Estate and New Yarmouth Distilleries. Over the last few days, we have been diligently working to assess the situation and coordinate our efforts. We are now working closely with local authorities and have mobilized resources, including water, food, and generators, to provide essential support such as charging cellular phones and other critical devices withinin the affected areas,” said Tanikie McClarthy Allen, Senior Director, Public Affairs and Sustainability at J. Wray & Nephew Limited.

The relief efforts are focusing on these especially affected areas near JWN’s facilities, including Seaview Gardens, Water House and Henley Road in Kingston, Gimme-Me-Bit, Milk River and Racecourse in Clarendon, and Siloah, Aberdeen, Appleton in St. Elizabeth among communities on the southern section of the parish Company employees through the JWN Foundation have volunteered to assist in the packaging and distribution efforts, demonstrating JWN’s commitment to community service.

McClarthy Allen noted: “ While the road to recovery may be challenging, J. Wray & Nephew stands ready to support our neighbours every step of the way. Should persons wish to help with our response, please visit www.JWNfoundation.org and donate to our foundation to aid our relief efforts.”

The company plans to continue its support in the coming weeks as the full extent of the hurricane’s impact becomes clear.

 

JWN Foundation expands agropreneurship initiative through strategic partnerships

SOURCE: The Jamaica Gleaner

The JWN Foundation recently expanded its agropreneurship initiative, leveraging key partnerships to enhance community development and economic empowerment across Jamaica. Originally launched in St Elizabeth in 2021, the programme has now extended its reach to Kingston and Clarendon, with an additional 100 contributions added to its 2024 staging.

The initiative, which focuses on establishing sustainable poultry farming ventures, has been bolstered by collaborations with JN Bank, HEART/NSTA Trust, and Nutramix. These partnerships aim to provide comprehensive support to aspiring agropreneurs, combining financial education, skills training, and essential resources.

Diamond King, youth banking officer for partnerships & engagement at JN Bank, emphasised the importance of the initiative.

“The financial empowerment of our people is crucial to Jamaica’s economic success. JN Bank is committed to supporting entrepreneurs across various sectors, including agriculture. We applaud the JWN Foundation for leading this Agropreneurship initiative and are grateful for the opportunity to partner with them to educate entrepreneurs about our convenient solutions.”

King added that the partnership has yielded positive results.

“The information was well received, and several participants expressed interest in learning more about how we can assist them so we are eager to build on this collaboration in the future.”

Ronique Rhoden, director of community engagement at HEART/NSTA Trust, highlighted the alignment between the initiative and their mission.

“As a human development agency, we were pleased to assist in bringing training to improve the lives of community members. Agropreneurship is a booming business opportunity ideal for these communities, and we’re committed to showing a trajectory for improved livelihoods.”

Rhoden also noted the enthusiastic response from participants.

“The beneficiaries are excited to be trained by the Trust in micro, small & medium-sized business. They look forward to developing their skills to better themselves, their families, and their communities,” she ended.

The expanded programme continues to provide chicken starter kits in partnership with Nutramix, equipping farmers with the resources needed to establish and grow their poultry businesses. Maurice Williams, Nutramix assistant brand manager, expressed pride in supporting the initiative, stating that it “underscores the importance of empowering our communities through agribusiness”.

JWN Foundation CEO Tanikie McClarthy Allen emphasised the initiative’s impact.

“Over 40 farming families in Clarendon have already t from the programme, and with this expansion, many more in Kingston will now have the opportunity to enhance their livelihoods. By empowering our local farmers, we are fostering economic growth, job creation, and improved standards of living,” she stated.

This collaborative effort between the JWN Foundation and its partners exemplifies a shared commitment to “transforming lives and communities for a better Jamaica” through sustainable agribusiness development.

JWN Foundation expands agro-preneurship programme to Corporate Area

SOURCE: Our Today

JWN Foundation (JWNF), the philanthropic arm of J Wray & Nephew, has expanded its “agro-preneurship” programme to communities within its vicinity on Spanish Town Road in St Andrew.

The foundation kick-started the programme in 2021, launching first in St Elizabeth, before expanding further in Clarendon in 2023, with the aim of bolster local farmers’ supplies, ensuring food security, and fostering economic resilience in Jamaica.

By bringing the initiative to Kingston, it aims to foster economic growth and agricultural development within the communities that are nearest its Spanish Town Road operations.

At the recent instalment of the programme, JWN Foundation distributed chicken starter kits and essential food items to over 100 farming families in both Clarendon and Kingston. This is a significant increase in the number of beneficiaries since the programme starting.

In Kingston, residents of Waterhouse, Seaview Gardens, Riverton City, and Henley Road benefitted from the distribution.

According to, Marsha Thompson, a resident from Gimme-Me-Bit in Clarendon, “This initiative has impacted my life so much because this is what I do for a living forover 5 years now and this contribution from the JWN Foundation is very timely because the last time I bought some chickens a mongoose came in and ate them all, so this is now an opportunity for me to build back. Now I can contiue to put this into my restaurant business at Vernamfield,” she explained.

CEO of the JWN Foundation Tanikie McClarthy Allen outlined that the agro-preneurship initiative started with a vision to empower community members through sustainable agribusiness practices.

“Today, we are witnessing the expansion of the fruits of our labor as more families embark on the path to self-reliance and entrepreneurial success. The expansion to Kingston is not just a milestone for us but a great signal to the opportunities for aspiring agro-preneurs across Jamaica,” she ended.

As the JWN Foundation continues to deepen its support of the Agro-preneurship program, the vision of transforming lives and communities for a better Jamaica remains at the heart of every action.

JWN Foundation enlisted Nutramix, JN Bank and HEART Trust/NSTA for the instalment of the programme.

Jamaal Muirhead ‘eyes’ serving the Jamaican cause as a diplomat

SOURCE: Go Jamaica

IN TWO years, he could become the first diplomat to hail from Crook’s Gate, southwestern Clarendon.

That’s why Jamaal Muirhead is putting everything into ensuring that he emerges top of the class as he reads for a degree in International Relations at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, cour tesy of a J Wray & Nephew (JWN) Foundation scholarship.

He has completed the first task, by making the Dean’s List in his first year of study and does not intend to drop the ball on the race to the fin ish line which climaxes in two years.

Jamaal is no ordinary scholar ship seeker. While in grade 10 at Denbigh High School in Clarendon, he pushed forward to apply for a scholarship through the JWN Foundation. But that initial denial did not daunt him. Although not successful for the scholarship, the JWN Foundation along with Optical Elements donated a pair of glasses to help the young student during his course of study. Following success at Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations, he applied again for a scholarship to take him through sixth form. Guess what? He was successful! And that success pushed him even further, as he was embraced by the founda tion, which backed him financially, again, for the latest tertiary schol arship over three years.

“I don’t know what I would have done without these scholarships, because things were tough,”he said. “Students should be persistent and search for those scholarships be cause they are out there, and they are meaningful. By working hard at your academics and getting in volved in extracurricular activities, you will be able to land those schol arships,” he urged others.

With his engine in full revolu tion, Jamaal not only wants to be a member of Jamaica’s diplomatic corps but intends to be involved in something special. “The study of international relations is extremely important. It is more relevant now, based on the conflicts that we have seen with Hamas and Israel, with Russia and Ukraine … and being a part of that process, I would be able to help Jamaica on the foreign Jamaal Muirhead, JWN Foundation Scholarship recipient. CONTRIBUTED front, because Jamaica is heavily dependent on outside investments and outside relation are important to a country,” the now resident of Gimme-Me-Bit in Clarendon remarked.

As for something extra, politics may be another area in which he could serve, if utterances by community folk regarding his suita bility in that area are taken seriously by him. But there are doubts. “I do have the political and leadership acumen, but Jamaican politics … it can be a bit filthy at times, it can be a bit rough, it is not easy. Jamaican politics is a blood sport,” he ended.

JWN Foundation’s reading ‘promise’

SOURCE: The Jamaica Observer

Grade 3 teacher at Gimme-Me-Bit Primary School Debbie Barrett (left) being presented with a copy of the JWN Foundation’s featured book for Read Across Jamaica Day, I am a Promise by Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce by JWN Foundation volunteers Kizzy Lamey (centre) and Yanique Dixon.

The JWN Foundation volunteers went to schools in the parishes of Kingston, Clarendon, and St Elizabeth last Thursday for Read Across Jamaica Day.