Claudia Gardner, Gleaner Writer 
Relatives and participants in the Generating Genius programme which aims to encourage higher standards of educational achievement among boys in Jamaica. It is also designed to prepare brilliant young men for careers in medicine or research science. - Contributed
SCHOLARS, SCHOOLS, churches and youth groups across Hanover, were presented with grants totalling close to J$10 million by the Hanover Charities Trust at the Round Hill Hotel in Hanover recently.
The funds were raised by the charitable organisation through its 2006 'Sugar cane Carnival' fund-raiser held in February at Round Hill.
Among the major recipients were the Hanover Ministers' Fraternal, which received $1 million to assist with its feeding programme for the indigent, and the Orchard Sporting Complex, which received $770,000 for the maintenance of the facility.
$1.7M TO TERTIARY-LEVEL
The Westhaven Children's Home at Copse in the parish, was granted $200,000, while the Success Primary and Junior High School received $544,000. Ten tertiary-level students were also granted a total of $1.7 million between them, under the organisation's Morris-Watkins Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Newly-installed chairman of the Hanover Charities, Katrin Casserly, has pledged to boost fund-raising initiatives for the organisation's 50th anniversary to be celebrated in February next year.
"It is truly a testament to the charitable spirit that we have achieved US$144,000 net at our 2006 Sugar Cane Carnival," she said. "To further enhance our drive for next year, Hanover Charities has just recently entered a partnership with American Friends of Jamaica, a charitable US-based organisation, with a mission to provide aid to Jamaican charities in education, healthcare and economic development," Mrs. Casserly added.
THE LARGEST
The Hanover Charities is the largest charitable organisation in western Jamaica. The organisation relies on donations from past and potential visitors to Jamaica as well as local donors.
Already plans are in place for the 2007 event on February 17, which will be held under the distinguished patronage of Governor-General, Professor Kenneth Hall, who hails from Claremount in the parish.
