GoodHeart | Howard Ward powers community impact across western Jamaica

For businessman and philanthropist Howard Ward, success has never been measured solely by profit. Instead, it has become a platform to uplift communities, invest in young people and create lasting opportunities across western Jamaica.

Ward, founder of Ward’s Power Tools and Supplies Limited and the Howard Ward Benefit Foundation, traces many of the values that guide his life today back to his childhood in Bunkers Hill, Trelawny.

“I grew up with my grandmother Georgiana Clayton,” Ward shared with GoodHeart. “She taught me discipline. If she left to go to the market, I had to shine the floor until I could see my face in it. If she came back and couldn’t see her reflection, then it wasn’t done properly.”

Ward attended Unity Primary School and later Muschette High, where an unexpected interest in home economics, encouraged by a teacher, set him on the path to a career in culinary arts, even though he was one of the few boys in the class.

“I wanted to become a teacher at first,” he admitted, “but I didn’t get the support to pursue that path. Since I was already learning cooking in school, I decided to continue in that direction.”

He studied culinary arts at the now-defunct Jamaica Hotel School in Stoney Hill. After working in several hotels in Jamaica, he spent three years as a chef with Royal Caribbean Cruise Line.

But life at sea soon began to feel limiting, he explained that, “The cruise ship environment felt too confined for me. I wanted something different.”

That desire for change eventually led him to Miami, Florida, where he got into landscaping.

“I had bought a home in a new neighbourhood, and I noticed that many of the homes needed landscaping. I initially hired someone to install a sprinkler system, but while observing the work I realised that I could learn to do this myself,” he said, noting that the experience even exposed him to construction-related work, which later played a role in his business journey.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

The idea for Ward’s Power Tools and Supplies actually came from the construction industry.

“At the time I was travelling overseas quite often,” Ward recalled. “The workers would always ask me to bring back tools [like] drills [and other]equipment that they couldn’t easily find here.”

Eventually, Ward realised the demand was more than a favour. He began sourcing tools in larger quantities and selling them locally. With limited resources but strong determination, he formally launched the company.

GIVING BACK

Over time, Ward’s business success allowed him to do something he had quietly been doing for years: giving back. Even before establishing a formal foundation, he supported schools, organised book drives, and contributed to community initiatives, particularly in his hometown in Trelawny and later in St James.

“I was always giving informally. But people around me encouraged me to create a formal foundation so the work could be more structured,” he said.

The foundation focuses on community development, youth support, education and sports across western Jamaica. Over the past three years, it has become fully organised and operational, with the company providing funds to support its initiatives. It also drives the annual MoBay Night Run, a charity 5K event that combines fitness, entertainment and community impact.

“I’ve supported a lot of runs and community events over the years,” Ward shared. “But one time I helped with a football game in my hometown in Trelawny. It was a night game, and I provided the lighting for it.” And the response was overwhelming: “It was a huge success. The atmosphere was totally different at night. The energy was different. That’s when I started thinking, why not create a night run?”

The blend of fitness, community and culture has made the event one of the organisation’s signature initiatives, raising funds for causes across western Jamaica. This year’s edition on April 4 will support the restoration of Anchovy High School, which was severely damaged by Hurricane Melissa.

For Ward, giving back is not simply philanthropy. It is an investment in the future of western Jamaica.

“Western Jamaica is experiencing significant development — new buildings, hotels and infrastructure. But if we’re not careful, we could face serious challenges if the population isn’t properly educated,” he said.

The businessman believes that economic growth must be matched by investment in people. “We must ensure that young people have the skills and knowledge to participate in and manage that development,” he explained. “Education gives young people the ability to make better decisions about their lives and their opportunities.”

He added, “While not every child will become a doctor or a teacher, whatever path they choose, they need to be educated enough to pursue it successfully.”

For Ward, that sense of responsibility also informs the advice he offers to young Jamaicans pursuing their dreams: “Whatever you decide to do, you must have passion for it. Passion is what keeps you going when things get difficult. If you believe in your dream and stay committed, you can succeed.”

nyoka.manning@gleanerjm.com