Ambassador lauds Atlanta-based Integrity Children’s Fund

WASHINGTON, DC:

Jamaica’s ambassador to the United States, Major General (Ret’d) Antony Anderson, has lauded the Atlanta-based Integrity Children’s Fund for its contribution to the education and development of at-risk children.

“I am pleased to salute the Integrity Children’s Fund, which, through its effort of giving back, has helped to touch many lives in Jamaica in immeasurable ways,” Ambassador Anderson said.

He delivered a compelling keynote address at the Integrity Children’s Fund Gala on June 21 hosted at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis under the theme, ‘An evening of glamour for education’ – celebrating more than 20 years of diaspora-driven impact, positioning Jamaica as a regional leader in education reform and innovation.

Ambassador Anderson praised the Integrity Children’s Fund for its enduring commitment to education, describing it as a case where “conviction meets compassion and action follows intention”. Since its establishment in 2002, the Atlanta-based non-profit has disbursed approximately US$1.2 million, supporting up to 600 students annually and impacting more than 8,000 lives across Jamaica and among immigrant families in metropolitan Atlanta.

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP IN ACTION

The Integrity Children’s Fund was founded by a team of visionary Jamaicans led by Major (Ret’d) Karl Chambers. Through strategic partnerships with schools and community organisations – from Kingston’s Jones Town Learning Centre to Operation Restoration Christian School in Trench Town, and innovative programmes in Trelawny and Montego Bay – the Fund has cultivated a robust network of educational excellence.

Ambassador Anderson lauded Major Chambers as “a proud son of Excelsior High School” whose leadership reflects “quiet strength and moral clarity.” The Fund’s expansion into Clarkston, Georgia – widely known as the “Ellis Island of the South” – illustrates how Jamaican values continue to influence and uplift communities far beyond national borders.

Ambassador Anderson also emphasised alignment with Jamaica’s national education priorities. He spotlighted Education Minister Dr Dana Morris Dixon’s recent announcement that reading instruction will return to primary school timetables beginning September. This policy, combined with the National School Learning and Intervention Plan (NSLIP), represents a holistic effort to enhance instruction time, provide psychosocial support, integrate digital resources, and tailor learning approaches to students’ needs.

The ambassador underscored the opportunity this creates for synergistic collaboration between government policy and diaspora investment – placing Jamaica at the forefront of educational transformation in the Caribbean.

A key highlight of the ambassador’s address was the embrace of emerging technologies. He described artificial intelligence and digital learning platforms as critical tools for “real-time feedback, personalised learning pathways, and access to quality resources regardless of location.” These tools, already in use through Fund-supported programs, are positioning Jamaica to leapfrog traditional educational barriers and become a leader in tech-enabled learning.

A MODEL FOR THE REGION

With an estimated diaspora of over 2.5 million, Jamaica has a unique development asset that few nations can match. The Integrity Children’s Fund serves as a model of how focused diaspora engagement can drive sustainable national progress. Its annual contribution of over US$70,000 does more than fund programmes – it builds capacity, creates opportunity, and fosters systemic change.

From its humble beginnings supporting a single school, the organisation has grown into a sophisticated educational network studied by other Caribbean nations seeking to replicate its success.

Ambassador Anderson called on Jamaicans at home and abroad to be “co-authors of our nation’s future”, and to continue supporting initiatives like the Integrity Children’s Fund.

The Gala marked not only a celebration of two decades of achievement but also a re-commitment to a shared vision of a Jamaica where every child has the opportunity to succeed – fuelled by global partnerships, national pride, and transformative education.

“The Integrity Children’s Fund proves that when Jamaicans unite around a shared purpose, no challenge is too great and no dream too ambitious to achieve…when you invest in a child’s education, you are investing in their capacity to navigate the world. You are giving them the tools to shape their own narratives, to challenge inequity, and to lift others as they rise”, Ambassador Anderson emphasised.

One significant feature of the gala was the recognition of outstanding Jamaicans for their contribution in the fields of medicine, aviation and leadership. The awards were presented by Ambassador Anderson to Jamaica’s consul general in Miami, Oliver Mair, Dr Sharon Harley and Executive Director of International Affairs at Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Alrene Richards Barr. In the true spirit of commitment to this cause, patrons contributed just over USD$35,000 at the event. The proceeds will go towards the continued funding of education projects in Jamaica and Atlanta.