News Stories

United Way beams as PSOJ COVID-19 Relief Fund reaches 80 per cent of target

THE Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) COVID-19 Response Fund is now up to almost $200 million — approximately 80 per cent of the target set when the PSOJ launched the fund on April 3.

The project has so far mobilised 1,215 volunteers, distributed 71,000 food packages in 52 communities, circulated 43,000 masks, and conducted 781 health checks.

United Way of Jamaica serves as fund manager for PSOJ COVID Response

Near $200 million has been raised by the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) COVID-19 Response Fund.

This is approximately 80 per cent of the target set.

The project mobilised 1,215 volunteers, distributed 71,000 food packages in 52 communities, circulated 43,000 masks and undertook 781 health checks. That is a remarkable feat by any measure.

100 farmers to benefit from $3.6-million project

KINGSTON, Jamaica— The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries says some 100 farmers from five parishes across the island will benefit from the distribution of 70,000 vegetable seedlings and fruit trees under the second phase of the Agri Resilience Response to COVID Project.

The ministry said the project, which is being implemented by the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) and funded by United Way of Jamaica, is valued at $3.6 million.

Farmers from Kingston, St Andrew, Clarendon, St Ann and Portland will be able to benefit.

United Way Helping Farmers To Bounce Back

Some 80 farmers in the parishes of Clarendon, St Portland, Kingston, St Andrew, and St Ann are set to receive a total of 70,000 vegetable seedlings and 300 fruit trees, along with inputs such as chemicals and fertiliser, as well as technical support.

United Way of Jamaica, 3M support small farmers in St Catherine

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The United Way of Jamaica (UWJ) and the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) recently launched the JAS/UWJ COVID Project at the St Catherine Agricultural Branch Societies Annual General Meeting.

The meeting was held on August 12, 2020.

The UWJ said 20 selected farmers within the parish of St Catherine received cash and in-kind inputs of approximately $30,000 each to assist them to establish agricultural ventures.

Citi, United Way Of Jamaica Prepare Care Packages For The Needy

Contributed

Citi Jamaica joined forces recently with volunteers from the United Way of Jamaica (UWJ) to prepare care packages for needy households served by the PSOJ COVID-19 Jamaica Response Fund. Here (from left), UWJ’s board member Marcia Erskine and chief executive officer, Winsome Wilkins, work with Citi’s country officer, Eva Lewis, and public affairs officer, Ruth Malcolm, at Sampars Warehouse, sponsors of a range of non-perishable food items.

United Way of Jamaica launches PSOJ COVID-19 Virtual Run

ONE hundred participants from Sherwin Williams West Indies have already registered for the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica's (PSOJ) COVID-19 Jamaica Response Fund Virtual Run.

The event was launched on Monday via live stream on the United Way of Jamaica's social media platforms and the PSOJ facebook page.

United Way of Jamaica joins Noranda to donate care packages in St.Ann

A team of top executives from the charitable organisation, United Way of Jamaica (UWJ), journeyed to St Ann recently to join forces with one of its long-time partners, Noranda Bauxite, to distribute food and care packages to several institutions and individuals.

United Way is the fund managers of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica’s (PSOJ) COVID Relief Fund, while Noranda, then Kaiser, was one of the foundation partners of UWJ when it began 35 years ago.

United Way of Jamaica at 35

The COVID-19 pandemic has put a lid on most of those ceremonial rites linked to funerals, such as 'singings', nine nights, set-ups, and grave diggings. The grave digging is not as popular as the other ceremonies, but friends tell me it's missed. Contrary to what the name suggests, it is undoubtedly the most expressive show of community volunteerism attached to a funeral.

Nationwide News Network Partners With United Way Of Jamaica In $16M Advertising Deal

By Kalilah Reynolds

Nationwide News Network is partnering with the United Way of Jamaica to promote the work of the 34 year old charity. United Way Chairperson, Marcia Forbes, says the $16 million deal is unprecedented.

Since its inception in 1985, the organization has mobilized resources to fund skills training, health care, education, agriculture, community development and youth empowerment programs across Jamaica.

Forbes says some of their more recent projects include early childhood education.