Sisters to Sisters come good for Women in Crisis

Sisters to Sisters, a charitable organization made up of women in the various areas of public life, including Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, the Hon Olivia “Babsy” Grange, has donated approximately $8 million to the Women’s Centre Foundation and the Bureau of Women’s Affairs.
The presentation took place Friday (July 30) at the Women’s Centre, Trafalgar Road, Kingston. The cheques were collected by Executive Director of the Women’s Centre Foundation, Beryl Weir, and Executive Director of the Bureau of Women’s Affairs, Faith Webster.

Pictured following the presentation of cheques, valued at approximately $8 million, to women’s organizations from funds raised by the Sisters to Sisters charity since its 2008 Mediathon, on Friday (July 3) at the Women’s Centre in Kingston, are from left: singer Nadine Sutherland; broadcaster Paula Ann Porter; Executive Director of the Women’s Centre Foundation, Beryl Weir; supporter of Sisters to Sisters, Ronnie Burke; Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Hon Olivia Grange; promoter/artiste manager, Sharon Burke; and Executive Director of the Bureau of Women’s Affairs, Faith Webster.

The fundraising started with the Sisters to Sisters’ Mediathon, in April, 2008, sponsored by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture to coincide with International Women’s Day. It was staged at the studios of the Creative Production and Training Limited (CPTC), Arnold Road, Kingston, featuring performances by several leading women in media and entertainment circles.
The donations were boosted by major contributions from companies such as Grace Kennedy Limited, which pledged $1 million, and entertainers, artiste managers and producers, including Shaggy, pledging over $1 million more. There was some delay in collecting the pledges but, in the meantime, other donations came in, including recording artiste Richie Stephens’ $500,000 part-proceeds from his “Take Me Away” fundraising concert last year.
The donations will support Women’s Centre projects, such as the Programme for Adolescent Mothers, which assists teenaged mothers, as well as finance a major new shelter for battered women in Kingston to be operated by the Bureau of Women’s Affairs, which falls under the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.
Joining Miss Grange at the handing over function were Sisters to Sisters committee members broadcaster Paula Ann Porter, singer Nadine Sutherland and promoter/show producer Sharon Burke, who produced the 2008 Mediathon, as well as promoter Ronnie Burke, who represents Brothers supporting Sisters to Sisters.