News

The Lions Club of Mona will be hosting an all-inclusive fund-raising event this month as it seeks financing to support its ongoing voluntary efforts.

On March 26, the club will celebrate an 'Evening of Excellence' at the Mona Visitors' Lodge, University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona campus.

The Lions Club of Mona has been around for more than 15 years, having been chartered on June 8, 1994.

Based on the Mona campus from its inception, the club has engaged in voluntary services in communities in Kingston and St Andrew.

"With a dedicated and committed membership drawn from UWI graduates, administrative staff and adherents, the Mona Lions team is fully equipped to provide voluntary services of the highest quality in the true tradition of its parent body, Lions Clubs International," the organisation said in a release.

In its release, the club pointed to three projects with accompanying sustainable programmes which it believes bear the mark of excellence.

Excellence in Service to the 'Disabled' (1999-present)

The club has championed the cause of the disabled through the establishment of the state-of-the-art $43 million 'UWI Mona Lions Club Resource Centre for Students with Special Needs' on the UWI Mona campus. This stands as a collaborative project between the Club and the UWI and achieved through partnership with over 150 major private and public-sector donors, sponsors and institutions. This project was spearheaded by two-time past president and president par excellence, Lion Dr Keith Peart and handed over to the UWI in 2007.

Excellence in Environmental Protection, Conservation and Management (2003-present)

The club has been at the forefront of the national movement to promote environmental conservation and protection. Through a proactive programme it has sought funding and coordinated professional expertise to rescue and replant over 40 hectares of denuded coffee lands in Jamaica's Blue Mountain region. This on-going multimillion-dollar project is ensuring stabilisation of fragile lands, and restoring conditions conducive to regular weather and rainfall patterns, a more balanced ecosystem, and vital water reco-very, storage and availability to the Kingston and St Andrew regions. This project is being spearheaded by environmentalist and past president Lion Denise Forrest in colla-boration with the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica, Forest Fund and the Forestry Department of Jamaica.

- Mona's Trophy for Excellence in Education (1997-present)

Mona Lions sustainable youth project is the Excellence in Education programme at the Papine High School. Each year, this programme awards the top Grade 11 academic student with the Club's Trophy for Excellence and an optional scholarship towards tertiary training. The club donated a new school bus in 2008.

Two-time past president and president par excellence Lion Cynthia Peart is the principal of Papine High School.