Executive Director of the ScotiaFoundation Joylene Griffiths-Irving said the organisation is now in a restructuring phase as it continues to make a difference in people's lives. Griffiths-Irving said the organisation has realised that the persons who made many of the requests received ended up not getting the full amount required for projects, hence the projects were left incomplete, or sometimes they did not get off the ground.

The aim, she said, is to get to know beneficiaries and help them in a more substantive way. Below is a list of some of the projects with which the ScotiaFoundation is involved:

1. School Breakfast Feeding Programme - The organisation is assisting seven schools to supplement their school-feeding programme by providing them with the money to prepare the meals. However, the schools are in need of volunteers to prepare the meals. The schools are Whitfield All-Age School, Bamboo Primary in St Ann, Holy Family Infant and Primary School, Elim Early Childhood Development Centre, Allman Town Primary, Draper's All-Age, and Denham Town Primary.

2. Mentorship Programme - Mentors are needed to assist persons - especially those in the inner city areas.

3. Health, Education and the Community - Griffiths-Irving said Scotiabank believed it was important to have an educated and healthy population and at the same time work in communities to give back.

4. PSOJ Youth Programme - Helping young people to realise their full potential.

5. Golden Age Homes - Scotiabank has adopted a cluster of these homes over the last 15 years and provides daily meals and a yearly treat for the residents.

6. Environmental Initiatives - In conjunction with the University of the West Indies, the organisation has been sensitising fishermen on how to catch the lionfish without poisoning themselves.

7. National Youth Help Recycling Project in collaboration with Hear the Children's Cry - Operating in the Grants Pen area, the foundation has contributed to the branding of the truck to make it more visible and is in the process of assisting them to brand the skips the foundation has placed in the schools.

The foundation was established on February 13, 1996, with an endowment fund of $100 million. This fund now stands at $284 million. Since its inception, the foundation has donated over $362 million to education, health, and community projects. In 2005, the donations totalled $61.8 million.

To assist with any of these voluntary activities, contact ScotiaFoundation at 932-0484.

keisha.hill@gleanerjm.com