M&M Invests $35M In Scholarships Over 10 Years

Born out of a passion to positively impact his country through youth development, founder and Managing Director of M&M Jamaica Limited, Donald Mullings, has transformed scores of young lives with investment in education.

Over the past 10 years, the company has spent more than $35 million providing several scholarships through its CHANCE Fund programme, which has enabled students to pursue studies in various disciplines at the tertiary level. Recently, it added a mentorship component, with the aim of connecting aspiring young professionals with industry veterans who are eager to impart guidance, knowledge, care, and motivation while also nurturing possibility thinking.

M&M has also established a mathematics competition in the native parish of its founder, St. Elizabeth. It is geared at encouraging students to view mathematics as fun and not a subject to fear but to master.

Under their internship programme, young engineering professionals are engaged, who have benefited from months of on-the-ground exposure to the day-to-day mechanics of the construction process. The internship programme has provided practical hands-on experience that complements the textbook knowledge garnered over their tertiary tenure.

“That scholarship has set the platform for my life, to where I am right now, and where I am heading,” states Kemar Muir, who benefited from a four-year scholarship sponsored by the company. He is now pursuing a master’s programme and also working as a process engineer at Intel Corporation in the United States (US).

Describing the scholarship as a “huge thing”, he tells JIS News that the company is having a “big impact on Jamaica”. He adds that his success has motivated his siblings to pursue their own passions.

Sharing her experience, Shaniel Hall says she got a big surprise when they awarded her a full scholarship. Having taken a “leap of faith” and got what she thought was a one-year tuition support, to her shock and amazement, when she was about to borrow funds for the second year, information came that the fees were already settled. Noting that she has been inspired to give back to her country from the generosity shown to her by M&M, she says she would also want to assist the programme, because “investing in a child’s future is very important to the growth of a country’s economy”.

Shane Moodie, who entered the internship programme, says it has taught him engineering skills that he had not learnt at university and has “made the difference in my professional career. It is an excellent programme, and I am happy that I chose M&M,” he shares.

When Arianna Martin entered the programme, it was about gaining valuable experience to propel her into practising her engineering skills, and according to her, it is more than that. Now a full-time employee of the company, it has “broadened my horizon, opened many avenues, my self-awareness and growth,” she says, while also equipping her to work in teams.

Civil Engineer Lesmar Murray says she has been mentored by M&M to “not limit self but to expand my horizon and continue my learning experience. It has given me holistic development and industry readiness, personal life-skills,” and is making her a more rounded person.

Participant in the mathematics competition Nicola Morris, who is now serving as Treasurer of the All Souls Anglican Church in St. Elizabeth, informs that the company funds the majority of their community outreach programmes. Most recent was a donation of $360,000 towards scholarships for students in the area, as well as other support to the community basic school.

“I commend them for their investment and commitment to the nation’s youth. Their philanthropy is ensuring that these youth get opportunity to gain academic success, which will improve the lives of family and the nation,” Miss Morris says.

A coordinator with the mathematics programme, Ingrid Brown, shares that it has been giving students exposure to not only the subject, but to visiting very interesting aspects of places across the island, as they are taken on tours, and “it is extremely helpful, not only to the students but also to the coordinators,” she says. From the programme, she has been moved to start an online competition for students at the Lacovia High School in the parish, where she is a teacher.

Third placed in the 2019 staging of the competition, Rojay Elliott says the competition creates awareness of mathematics and provides motivation for students. “It is a job well done,” he says, adding that when he placed in the top three, “I felt joy, and really believed that I accomplished something special. It was something to be remembered,” he tells JIS News.

Deputy Managing Director of M&M, Richard Mullings, says the initiatives are catalysts for the society’s thrust towards youth development. He is especially proud of the internship programme.

“It is a core part of how we operate. As long as we can survive, we can’t change that element of how we operate. We want to see people better trained and acclimatised to the workforce, and ready to be productive for our country,” Mr. Mullings states.

Businessman and mentor with the mentorship programme, Errol Smith, describes the initiative as a “solution” and states that he has seen a great deal of progress with the programme. “I would encourage them to continue this. I am enjoying my part in it, and it has opened my eyes where I can personally help,” he tells JIS News.

For another mentor, businessman Neville Mills, it has allowed his mentee to become a part of his family, and “M&M ought to be credited for what they have been doing, bringing in people who they have been working with in the industry to share their knowledge for the success of the mentees and the success of Jamaica, and we need to have more companies operating like this and more mentors to deal with the younger people. It is a good programme, and I am extremely happy to be part of it,” Mr. Mills says.