Golden Krust Partners with UWI to Provide Scholarships

Jamaican owned Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery & Grill, based in the Bronx, New York, United States, has pledged US$100,000 to the American Foundation for the University of the West Indies (AFUWI), to establish a Fund to provide scholarships to students of the University of the West Indies (UWI).
Golden Krust’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Lowell Hawthorne signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Vice Chancellor of the UWI, Professor Nigel Harris and AFUWI Chairman, Mr. Michael Flanigan, on January 28, at the AFUWI fund raising gala, held at the Pierre Hotel in Manhattan, New York.
Signing the MOU, Mr. Hawthorne pledged his commitment to provide five scholarships per year over a period of eight years in the amount of US$2,500 each to students who demonstrate leadership potential, academic excellence, community involvement and is in financial need.
Mr. Hawthorne pointed out that his company had a passion to see tomorrow’s leaders become equipped through the pursuit of higher education, which would help to open many doors of opportunity and advance the development of the region.
He added that the company had intentionally decided to invest in youth through the provision of scholarships. Golden Krust’s philanthropic arm – The Mavis & Ephraim Hawthorne Golden Krust Foundation – has granted over 100 scholarships in the United States and Jamaica since 1995.
In her remarks, Executive Director of AFUWI, Ms. Ann-Marie Grant, said she was pleased and excited about this partnership with Golden Krust. She said AFUWI not only values the monetary investment made by Golden Krust, but also the relationship which has been fostered with Mr. Lowell Hawthorne, who has pledged his personal commitment to UWI by way of mentorship and the transfer of knowledge to students of business at UWI, in the areas of entrepreneurship and franchising.
“Scholarships of this nature will provide the thrust needed to allow the Caribbean region and the Caribbean Diaspora to move forward,” she said.
Golden Krust Bakery & Grill, Inc., is a Caribbean food chain. Founded in 1989 by Mr. Hawthorne, the company is headquartered in the Bronx, and has 120 stores located across nine states – New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.