JHTA Kingston Chapter Hailed for Support to Needy

Tourism Director, Donovan White, has praised the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association’s [JHTA] Kingston Chapter for its ongoing assistance to the society’s youth and needy through the staging of the Kingston City Run.

The annual event benefits the Open Arms Development Centre, Marie Atkins Night Shelter, Food For the Poor, Alpha Institute/Alpha Boys’ Home, and Missionaries of the Poor. The entities have received over $15 million in support since the City Run’s inception in 2013.

“When you look at the charities, you have to tip your hat to the effort [by the organisers] that goes into ensuring that they continue to contribute,” Mr. White said.

He noted that the five beneficiaries are “solid charities”, which continue to focus on areas where help is needed, “and we have to recognise that the more we give… is the more we get, and so we have to always feel the need to give back… and give willingly”.

Mr. White was speaking at a recent ceremony to launch the 2019 renewal of the run held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.

During the function, each entity received cheques valued at $610,000, representing the proceeds from the 2018 run in March.

For her part, Kingston City Run Founder and Organising Committee Co-Chair, Nicola Madden-Greig, said helping the homeless and helpless remains central to the Chapter’s focus. She said that the Chapter plans to channel funds towards mental health, which is a key contributor to homelessness.

Mrs. Madden-Greig, who is a former JHTA President, emphasised that the Chapter, through the Kingston City Run, “aims to raise awareness, engage participants to donate, and provide a platform for assistance with rehabilitation efforts”.

Deputy Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Winston Ennis, who endorsed the City Run’s 2019 renewal, said the event has been and remains beneficial to citizens across the municipality.

“It has brought participants from all walks of life together for the worthy causes that the run has funded over the years,” he added.

Next year’s staging of the Kingston City Run, which has been expanded to include a marathon, will be held from March 15 to 17. The five charities will again benefit from the event.