$7.8m donated to community projects in Clarendon SEVEN ORGANISATIONS in Claren-don including four schools, are the recipients of $7.8 million donated by the ALCOA Foundation. The donations were presented at an awards ceremony held recently at JAMALCO's refinery at Clarendon Alumina Works. The donations which ranged in amounts from $2.7 million for the construction of a "building for social and educational pur-poses" in Cornpiece to $360,000 for the renovation of the Halse Hall Basic school, were presented to representatives of the various institutions by managing director of JAMALCO, Mr. Jerome Maxwell and other members of staff of the company. Mr. Maxwell noted that the focus of the ALCOA Foundation is to "support issues that are aligned to the goals of the company and make a positive impact on the community". He said the Foundation is committed to funding projects that "promote conservation and sustainability, skills development, business and community partnerships, children and family development and education". This level of support, he added, is important as the company continues its effort to strengthen the partnerships that exist between the organisation and the community. Mr. Maxwell said that although JAMALCO is undergoing "trying times" some US$25 million is being spent this year in communities in which the plant, mine and port operate. The emphasis will be on the parish of Clarendon, with the major portion of this amount, going to the mining area. Public relations and communications manager at JAMALCO, Mrs. Blossom Laidlaw, said in continuing to forge partnerships, ALCOA had announced "ACTION", a new programme that targets employees of the company. She said the organisation will donate an additional US$3,000 for each group of 10 full-time employees who are willing to give eight to ten hours of voluntary service to projects which benefit their community. Three projects will be funded annually. US$250 will also be donated to projects on which employees volunteer for a minimum of four hours. Other funds distributed include: $450,000 to the Mitchell Town Primary School for establishing a reading room; $675,000 to Vere Technical High for a technology centre; $450,000 to Bustamante High for a computer lab; $2.7million to the Mocho community for the construction of a community centre as well as $225,000 to United Way of Jamaica for Central Clarendon Projects. Keynote speaker and president of United Way of Jamaica, Mrs. Winsome Wilkins, praised the organisation for its willingness to support projects that aim to bring about social change and build sustainable communities.
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