Charities Receive $3.05 Million From Jhta Kingston Chapter

Five charities focused on addressing the welfare of the youth, homeless and needy, have benefited from donations totalling $3.05 million from the Kingston Chapter of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA).

The entities, which received $610,000 each are Open Arms Development Centre, Missionaries of the Poor, Food For the Poor, Marie Atkins Night Shelter, and Alpha Boys’ School/Alpha Institute.

The funds came from the proceeds of this year’s sixth staging of the Chapter’s Kingston City Run held in March.

At the presentation ceremony held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on Thursday (October 11), member of the organising committee, Maurice Bryan, lauded the charities for their dedication and commitment.

He noted that more than $15 million has been raised from the annual City Run for the charities to date.

Deputy Mayor of the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSMAC), which operates and manages the Marie Atkins Night Shelter, Councillor Winston Ennis, said this year’s provision will go a far way in supporting, building and repairing the facility’s existing structures “as well as provide well-needed items for our residents and those in need”.

“We are extremely grateful for this year’s contribution. Our homeless persons have seen the true benefit to their physical and mental health, due to improvement in the service delivery and care our hard-working poor-relief staff provides. For this I say a big thank you,” he said.

For his part, General Manager of the Alpha Boys’ Institute’s radio station, Joshua Chamberlain, noted that the donation will better enable the entity to provide training and services to the students and members of the surrounding communities.

All five entities are slated to benefit from the staging of the JHTA Kingston Chapter’s inaugural Kingston City Marathon from March 17 to 19, 2019.