Piloted by the loyal members of JNBS, the Member Advisory Council (MAC) has provided grant funding for more than 350 community projects since its inception in 2006. Through the MAC, JNBS member representatives and employees in all JNBS branches and JN Moneyshops identify projects within their communities geared at creating sustainable change. This special edition of the JN Foundation’s ACT!ON Newsletter will feature some of the great MAC projects undertaken during the last year.

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2013

INNOVATINGINSPIRINGIMPACTING

JN Members participate in the development of their communities

IN THIS ISSUE

Paul Bogle VTI 2Portmore goes for impact 3Granville Police 4Hurricane Sandy Relief 5Frenchman’s Beach 6Coastal Clean Up 7Alpha Primary 8Post for Act!on 9Labour Day 10

Maylin Lyew, member of staff, JN Small Business Loans paints the pedestrian crossing in front of St. Aloysius Primary School on Duke Street in Kingston.

Mandeville Fire Station boosts awareness – JN MandevilleSafety and security is being spread like wild fire in the public relations campaign by the Mandeville Fire Station. The donation of a projector has improved the station’s capacity to make safety presentations to a larger audience.

A Cleaner Town – JN LinsteadWith a donation of fifteen garbage bins strategically placed around Linstead, the Parish Council and residents are hoping to see a cleaner town.New fans, paint improve students’ attitude at Edgehill School – JN Ocho RiosA cooler auditorium and classrooms, brighter walls and a fresh paint job have improved the attitude of the students at the Edge Hill School of Special Education in St. Ann.

Christmas Chair Donation – JN Half-Way-TreeLester Duhaney, a blind and physically challenged member of the Society for some 30 years, received a special Christmas gift of a new wheelchair to enhance his mobility.

Cornwall College Drum Corps – JN Montego BayA new set of drums, bugles, cymbals, percussion instruments and mallets will bring the dormant Drum Corps of the Cornwall College Cadet Corps back to life. The donation was a great enhancement to the Unit, which had been suffering from a drastic shortage of instruments.

The Paul Bogle Vocational Training Institute in Lyssons, St. Thomas has benefited from state-of-the-art instructional equipment, which will enhance the HEART Trust Vocational Programme offered at the school.

The training equipment valued at $300,000, included desktop computers, a laptop and printer; as well as a work station, comprising scanning and photocopying machines. The items were presented to the institution by the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) Foundation on Thursday, September 19.

Edison Taylor, Business Relationship and Sales Advisor for the JNBS St. Thomas and Portland branches, said the donation was part of the branches’ Member Advisory Council (MAC) programme. The MAC operates in all of the Society's Branches and JN Money Shops across the island and is funded by the JNBS Foundation.

“This project highlights our commitment to enhancing the physical context in which our students are being educated and to help them to become self-reliant,” he said. “JNBS believes in giving back to the community. Therefore, when this project came to the MAC’s attention, we did not hesitate to respond positively, because we know that it will have a far reaching impact on the lives of these students.”

Millicent Williams, Centre Manager at the institution, said the donation will enhance the delivery of teaching at the school. “This donation is a welcome acquisition. The equipment will improve student learning outcomes; and will assist our teachers to deliver more student centred programmes,” she acknowledged.

The Paul Bogle Vocational Training Institute, which was established in 1993, provides training and certification via the HEART Trust/NTA for levels one and two certification in general

construction, welding and electrical installation. The institution is also in the process of establishing an Early Childhood Programme at level one.

The overall programme caters to more than 100 students who are unable to move on to tertiary institutions; or, due to financial constraints are unable to further their studies. Residents in Lyssons and neighbouring communities, such as Prospects, Retreat and Albion, are benefiting from the programme.

The MAC is comprised of JN members and employees who identify and select development projects in their respective communities for funding. Since 2006, the Councils have provided grant funding for more than 350 community projects across the island.

The Business Development Consultants workshop covered Business Models, Business Planning and Social Value Measurement, while the Pilot Social Enterprises’ workshop centered on Understanding what a social enterprise is and why they are important, and the importance of business planning.

Paul Bogle VTI Receives Equipment from JN Foundation

Millicent Williams (third left), Centre Manager of the Paul Bogle Vocational Training Institute and her student Monique Francis (second right) examine the equipment presented by Edison Taylor (right), Business Relationship and Sales Advisor for the Jamaica National Building Society’s Morant Bay and Port Antonio branches and Annette Soman (left), Operations Support Officer at the Morant Bay Branch in St. Thomas. Sharing in the moment was Valerie Holness, Chair of the JN Member Advisor Council and former Branch Manager of JNBS Morant Bay.The presentation was made at the school on Thursday, September 19.

Portmore Pines: Supporting community projects with great impact is the hallmark of the Member Advisory Council (MAC) at the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) Portmore Pines Branch. Since 2010 when Branch Manager, Troy Bygrave, put his six-member team together, they have taken the task of using the resources of the JNBS Foundation’s small grant scheme to ensure sustainable development in and around their St. Catherine community.

Annually, each JNBS Branch and Money Shop is given grant funding, through the MAC, to allocate to projects selected by the Branch Manager, JN members and employees as part of JNBS’ corporate social responsibility mandate of reinvesting in the communities they serve.

“JN Members and employees play a critical role in identifying the needs of their specific communities, and assisting the JN Foundation in allocating resources to meet these development needs,” said Virigina Turner, Project Manager for Rural Development, JNBS Foundation.

It was no surprise that the Portmore Pines Branch got the endorsement of the entire Portmore community for its latest MAC project, as it was one that was a nuisance waiting to be corrected. The recent donation of spray cans, fogging machines, overalls, helmets, water booths and gas masks, for a 12-man team was made to the Portmore Mosquito Control Programme towards its mosquito eradication project last October.

“This project was right on target; the timing was perfect,” an enthused

chairman Dr. Fagan stated as she spoke about the thoroughness with which the MAC members approach their selection of projects. “We do a lot of investigation and site visits before deciding on which project to select,” she stated, adding that the team has a great working relationship.

Mr. Bygrave said that this latest project was embraced by the municipality with the Mayor attending the handing over and councillors regularly thanking JNBS for undertaking this initiative.

“The MAC has allowed us to entrench ourselves in the community and this is reflected in the constant appreciation expressed by those who have benefitted directly or indirectly. As a result, many requests for partnerships on projects come in

JN Portmore Pines goes for impact

Troy Bygrave (2nd left), Manager, JNBS Portmore Pines presents a fogging machine to Howard Lynch (left), Parish Manager, St. Catherine Health Services and Owen Forbes (2nd right), Supervisor, Vector Control Unit, St. Catherine Health Department at the JNBS Portmore Pines branch on Friday, October 5, 2012. Participating in the handover is Dr. Juliette Fagan, Member of the JN Portmore Pines Member Advisory Council (MAC). The MAC provided funding in the amount of J$300, 000 that was used to purchase much-needed equipment and protective gear for the 12 men who are responsible for regular fogging operations to control the spread of mosquitoes borne diseases within Portmore and surrounding communities.

from community groups and even the municipal council,” the Branch Manger noted.

Prior to the mosquito eradication project, it was the Portmore Health Centre, in 2011, which benefitted from the handing over of a refrigerator to assist in the storage of medication, allowing them to broaden the range of supplies required. With the Centre seeing approximately 3,000 persons monthly, the MAC members are confident that this project has greatly impacted the community.

The Ascot High School Physical Education Department got a boost when the MAC provided the school with a table tennis set – table, racquets, balls, and a net to help hone the dexterity skills of the many

students displaying avid interest in this game of mind reading and reflexes.

“This donation launched the table tennis club at the school. It was the catalyst that got the club going, allowing us to enter the Issa Table Tennis Competition, twice,” Physical Education Teacher Mr. Elton Johnson pointed out. “We now have 15 students who train regularly as we plan to improve our showing in the Issa competition this year,” he added.

Concerned about the education of toddlers, the JN Portmore Pines MAC also wanted to ensure that each child attending the Greater Portmore Basic School would be in a position to benefit from a healthy meal, daily, and it was with this in

mind that they donated a four- burner gas stove to the School’s Feeding Programme.

“One thing I like about Mr. Bygrave is that as soon as one project is finished he calls the team together to start looking for another worthwhile project,” Dr. Fagan stated, adding that is one of the reasons why she deems it a great honour and privilege to serve his community as a member of the MAC .

The JN Portmore Pines MAC is chaired by Dr. Juliette Fagan and equally supported by Valrene Bennett, Yshanna Picart, Reverend Karl Henlin, Troy Bygrave and Dawnette Pryce-Thompson.

JN Portmore Pines Pines for Impact....continued from page 3

A comfortable environment for the Granville Police

Rose Miller (2nd left) Grants Manager, Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) Foundation presents two standing fans to Sergeant Delroy Harriott of the Granville Police in a ceremony at JN Financial Centre, Catherine Hall, Montego Bay on Friday August 29, 2013. Participating in the presentation are Nina Peters (left), Relationship and Sales Advisor, JN Financial Services; Dawnette Pryce-Thompson (second right), Programme Administrator, JNBS Foundation and Glenroy Wiggan, member of the St. James Parish Civic Community (SJPCC). The JNBS Foundation made the donation in response to a request from Clinton Pickering, Public Relations Officer for SJPCC for assistance in providing a more comfortable environment for the hard working service men and women at the station.

The JN Foundation handed out several million dollars of equipment and hurricane relief supplies to institutions in the parishes of St. Mary and Portland on Thursday, May 30.

This was to make good on pledges of assistance made by Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS), General Manager Earl Jarrett, to the public forums held in the wake of Hurricane Sandy last year October. The JN Foundation is the philanthropic arm of JNBS.

“The delivery of these supplies and equipment is timely given that the hurricane season will start on June 1,” said Saffrey Brown, General Manager of the JN Foundation. “We are happy to be handing over such critical equipment and supplies, which we know will have a meaningful impact on the communities that were affected.”

In St. Mary, the Port Maria Hospital received a Vital Sign Monitor; the Port Maria Primary School received dozens of desks and chairs, while the Port Maria Fire Station was presented with water pumps, chain saw and a projector for training. The Port Antonio Fire Station received similar equipment to that in St. Mary.

Among other institutions receiving equipment were the St. Mary Chamber of commerce, the Emmanuel United Church, and the Annotto Bay Police station. The supplies and equipment were handed over at the Port Maria Primary School in St. Mary and at the JNBS Port Antonio Branch in Portland.

Late last year, St. Mary and Portland were severely impacted by Hurricane Sandy. In the aftermath, JNBS initiated a series of meetings between parish residents and teams from the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, the Jamaica Public Service Company, National Water

Commission and other state bodies involved in disaster response activities.

The supplies were distributed through the JNBS’ Member Advisory Councils comprised of JNBS Members and staff.

St. Mary and Portland Get Hurricane Sandy Relief Supplies

Fire fighter, Caryl Lindo (centre) tries out the chain saw that was presented to the Port Maria Fire Station by the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) Foundation through its Member Advisory Council. Looking on are Rose Miller (right), Projects Manager at the JN Foundation and Omar Haye, Business Relations & Sales Advisor for the JNBS Port Maria and Ocho Rios Branch. Also sharing in the moment (in the background) were Hilret Hanson (left), Executive, Branch Operations at JNBS and Mayor of Port Maria, Councillor Leevan Freeman. 

Frenchman’s Beach, in the South coast tourist enclave of Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth is much safer and cleaner with the erection of two lifeguard stations, the acquisition of two lifeguard rings and the strategic placement of five jumbo garbage bins along the beach.

Bernard Otis Sutherland, president of the Frenchman’s Beach Fisher Folks Association says that, “Unfortunately persons do get into difficulties even with the ‘strong current’ warning signs dotted along the beach.” This prompted the Fisher Folks’ application to the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) Foundation for assistance with this safer beach project.

Mr. Richard Salmon, Supervisor of the JNBS Junction Branch, through which the application was routed, said the project has the potential to save lives while keeping the environment clean.

The project was evaluated and selected for support by the members of the Member Advisory Council (MAC) at the Junction Branch, comprised of JN members and employees. The Member Advisory Councils operates in all 25 JNBS branches and eight JN Money Shops across the island, with the mandate to support local community development projects, with funding from the JNBS Foundation.

“This is the kind of project that our MAC likes to support because it impacts the community in a positive way,” Mrs. Alethia Carpenter-Peart Branch Manager reported.

The towering seven foot blue and yellow lifeguard stations, with local-made thatch roofing; and the yellow life saving rings hanging close by are symbols of safety at the beach.

Mr. Chris Bell, a tourist from Utah, USA, said he could not help noticing the life guard stands as he jogged by, but wondered where the life guards were.

“We have several life guards and the team will be bolstered as some 13 Treasure Beach residents were recently trained and certified,” Mr. Sutherland stated, adding that the Fisher Folks were currently conducting dialogue with them, as they finalise a volunteer programme

and seek funding to provide stipends.

For local born Diana Dennis visiting from England, the bins were a welcome sight as “the last time I was here I had difficulty finding one along the beach and already you can see how much cleaner the beach is,” she added.

For Fisher Folks Ted, Kevin and Clifton Parchment who have seen and participated in many recues, the life guard stations will give a birds eye view and allow them to see everybody in the sea.

“The undercurrent can be very strong and on holidays when the beach is crowded you find that some persons swim out of their depth,” stated Mr. Allan Daley, tour guide, who describes himself as a long-time fisherman who has been “cutting fish” on the beach since the age of ten. To him, “the beach is cleaner and you feel safer just knowing that something is being done to equip the life guards.”

A Safer, Cleaner Frenchman’s Beach

Alethia Carpenter-Peart (left), Manager, JNBS Junction speaks with members of the Frenchman’s Beach Fisher Folks Association during the official handover of the life guard stations and garbage receptacles.

JN Members assist with International Coastal Clean Up

(L-R) Melissa Daley-Harper, Sponsorship and Events Officer, JNBS; Michelle Webster-Gauntlett, Mobile Sales and Client Relations Specialist, JNBS; and Aldene Hall-Dixon, Operations Support Officer, JNBS assist with the clean up efforts at Prospect Fishing Beach in Portland.

ACT!ON Jamaica Volunteers are briefed by a representative of the Portland Environment Protection Association (PEPA) for the days' activity - cleaning up Prospect Fishing Beach in Portland.

A part of the team reeling over the debris they collected at the Prospect Fishing Beach.

ABOVE: Virginia Turner (right), Project Manager, Rural Development, Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) Foundation is assisted by volunteers with The Source Community Resource Centre: Bartlett Bird (left); Suen Hibbert (centre), and Gina-Ann Cameron Turner, in cleaning up the Fort in Savanna-la-Mar and the beach adjacent to the Savanna-la-Mar Market on Great George Street. They were part of a larger team of approximately forty persons who participated in International Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday, September 21, as part of an initiative headed by the Westmoreland Camber of Commerce.

On International Coastal Cleanup Day, recognized on Saturday, September 21, two teams from the JN Foundation’s Act!on Jamaica Volunteer Corps and Member Advisory Councils, joined forces with other volunteers to clean Jamaica’s coastline. In the west of the island in association with the Westmoreland Chamber of Commerce, the clean-up took place at the Fort in Savanna-la-Mar and the beach adjacent to the Savanna-la-Mar Market on Great George Street. In the east, volunteers worked alongside the Portland Environmental Protection Association to clean the Prospect Fishing Beach in Port Antonio. The Foundation mobilized 60 Action Jamaica volunteers for the day’s activities.

RIGHT:Virginia Turner (right), Project Manager, Rural Development, Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) Foundation is assisted by volunteers with The Source Community Resource Centre: Suen Hibbert (centre), Gina-Ann Cameron Turner (left), in cleaning up the Fort in Savanna-la-Mar and the beach adjacent to the Savanna-la-Mar Market on Great George Street.

Alpha Primary receives New Gate from JNBS Duke Street

The safety and security of the students, who attend the Alpha Primary School on South Camp Road in Kingston, will be greatly improved with the installation of two new gates and the repainting of a pedestrian crossing.

Angella Boothe, Manager of the Duke Street Branch of Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS), said the project was made possible with a J$300,000 grant, administered by the Member Advisory Council (MAC) of the branch. “The MAC’s are supported with funding from the JNBS Foundation,” she advised.

On Saturday, November 24, members and employees of the branch involved in the JNBS Foundation’s Action Jamaica Volunteer Corps, painted the gates and crossing, which serve more than 2,000 students in the school population.

Ms. Boothe explained that she received a request from the school seeking assistance to have the gates repaired. “However, they were too weak to be repaired; therefore, a decision was taken to replace them. Additionally, the old gates did not facilitate pedestrian traffic; and, as a result, parents and guardians dropping off or picking up their children faced lengthy delays.

Millicent Graham, Principal of the Alpha Primary School, pointed out

that the assistance in addressing the infrastructural needs of the school is highly appreciated. “The school is more than 100 years old; therefore, repairs are critical from time to time. What JN has done is remarkable and it will go a far way,” she explained.

Grateful studentsAmori Henrique-Jarrett and Kay-

lee Smith, two grade six students who were attending classes on the painting day, voiced their opinions about the project.

“The old gate was very low and easy to climb and it was damaged,”

Amori said, adding that, “I feel safer now, because of the new gate. I’m also happy that the pedestrian crossing was repainted. It makes crossing the road safer; and drivers will be more cautious when approaching the school. Now they will slow down, and look to see if students are trying to cross the road.”

Kay-lee, on the other hand, spoke about the significance of the colours used to paint the gate. She pointed out that “the colour gardenia is near to white, and the colour white represents cleanliness, while black represents compassion and hard work. These colours describe our school.”

The JN Member Advisory Councils, which operates in all of the Society’s branches and JN Money Shops across the island, are comprised of JN members and employees who identify and select projects for funding within their respective communities.

Since 2006, the Councils have provided grant funding for more than 350 community projects across the island.

Netball Club wins post-for-action grant funds at parish show

Savanna-la-Mar: The excitement amongst the ladies from the 12 Star United Netball Club of Bethel Town kicked into high gear, with the announcement that they were the recipient of the JN Foundation’s Member Advisory Council (MAC) $40,000.00 Post -for- Action grant funding for their community project.

The girls were recovering from a grueling final face-off with Savanna Sports Club, which they won to walk away with the Westmoreland Parish Show Netball competition trophy recently.

“This is great. We really need it,” said the breathless Shaneka Ferguson, vice captain of the team and the one who took the initiative to highlight the most pressing

needs of the Club- that of a court that they can play on without fear of injury.

Through the MAC the JN Money Shop network is given grant funding to allocate to projects that are selected through post-for action activities thus ensuring that JNBS corporate social responsibility mandate of reinvesting in the communities they serve is carried out.

Coach Dwight Morris agreed as he said that one of his fears when the girls were playing, is that they would sustain injury because of the uneven surface of the court. “The court’s surface is uneven as cars keep driving on it, and even a helicopter transporting the Prime Minister used it as the landing

base, so we are very happy for this fund which will be used to resurface a portion of the court ,” Morris noted.

Social Development Commission (SDC) Parish Manager Ron Daley, who is a member of the Savanna-la-Mar MAC says the SDC will be seeking additional funding to complete the fencing of the court to prevent cars driving on it.

Visitor to the JN Foundation booth, Sonny Dawkins, affixes his cardoutlining his project to the Member Advisory Council Post-for-Act!on

Board at the recently held Westmoreland Parish Show. In background,Act!on Jamaican volunteer, Michelle Chang, hangs out in the SourceSavanna-la-Mar space. Some 32 community projects were posted.

How to find usJNBS Foundation 32 1/2 Duke Street, Kingston CSO | Phone: 876 926 1344 Ext. 4749 | Fax: 876 922 4777

E mail: foundation@jnbs.com | Website: www.jnfoundation.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/JNFoundation | Twitter: http://twitter.com/JNFoundation

Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) and the JNBS Foundation joined with its members, employees, Act!on Jamaica volunteers and others to implement 23 Labour Day projects across the length and breadth of Jamaica on Labour Day May 23, 2013. The theme for Labour Day was “Lend a Hand; Build our Land”, with a focus on supporting the most vulnerable groups within the society. Each JN branch, through its Member Advisory Council, funded and carried out projects within their communities. Here are some photo highlights of JN members, employees and volunteers in Act!on on Labour Day!

JN Members, Employees,Volunteers Lend a Hand on Labour Day