CASSERLY
RED STRIPE Jamaica has donated $12 million to the United Way movement.
The announcement was made during yesterday's opening of the first United Way International Caribbean Conference in Kingston.
The conference has brought together delegates from the United Way movement across the Caribbean
to share experiences and best practices towards expanding and strengthening the movement.
The contribution from the beer company boosts the United Way of Jamaica (UWJ) 2005 campaign for which President Alvaro Casserly has set a goal of $40 million.
Mr. Casserly said the money would assist the UWJ in fulfilling its mandate "to increase the organised capacity of people to care for one another".
Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, Mr. Casserly said
the UWJ has set four goals for a stronger and expanded organisation.
These goals include increasing the volunteer pool from 350 to 500, increasing annual giving from income to help meet the cost of projects, and assist in meeting operating expenses of the organisation.
UWJ PRAISED
Declaring the two-day conference open K.D. Knight, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, praised the UWJ as "an organisation of good Samaritans" and noted the organisation's work in "helping to protect our children, to improve care for our elderly and to support activities for
our mentally and physically challenged nationals".
In her remarks United Way International President, Christine James-Brown, said the United Way now has 4,000 volunteers across 46 countries.
Other islands represented at the conference include, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix.
