Supreme Ventures Foundation for sports, health and education

Dr David McBean, chairman of the newly established Supreme Ventures Foundation, is off to a good start. Speaking with The Gleaner yesterday, McBean said the foundation has identified three areas of focus - sports, education and health - in order to place its emphasis on projects that will leave a lasting legacy rather than to be making donations to several small ones.

"We want to make a big impact on all of the communities we touch. So if it's sports, we will do fewer projects that have a more lasting impact on a greater number of people in the society," said McBean. He is joined in this mandate by board members, Barrington Chisholm, a reputable banker, and May Lawrence Evans, of Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL). The number of members could grow in the future.

The foundation was set up to enhance SVL's corporate social responsibility. "So we will not be doing a lot of small gifts. Our first initiative is the currently running raffle," he said. Proceeds from this raffle, which is part of the company's Jamaica 50 celebrations, will benefit Jamaica's team to the Olympics. A number of cash prizes and all-expenses-paid trips to the Summer Olympics are now up for grabs in a raffle. But the long-term vision for the foundation is the growth and development of sports in the island.

Though not willing to shed light on other projects in the works, McBean said they were still in the planning phase but he was looking forward to announcing them.

Supreme Ventures Limited now contributes to festivals; outreach to the needy, the Jamaica Cancer Society, Diabetes Association, Lupus Foundation and the Heart Foundation of Jamaica.

Contact Supreme Ventures at: 4th Floor, Sagicor Centre; 28-48 Barbados Avenue, Tel: (876) 754-6526, Fax: (876) 754-2143.