Robert Lalah, Staff ReporterTHE TRAGIC killing of well-known windshield cleaner Richard (Richie) Grant on December 13, 2004, has sparked a fire of goodwill and generosity that continues to burn even now.
Grant was admired by Jamaicans from all walks of life for the politeness he demonstrated each day as he cleaned the windshields of cars stopped at the intersection of Waterloo and Hope roads. He was widely known for the T-shirts he wore which read 'May I clean your windshield please?'.
Betty-Ann Blaine, founder of Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU), who acted as a mentor for Grant, has spearheaded the effort to ensure that the kindly young man did not die in vain, and that his three young children will be taken care of in his absence.
MANY DONATIONS
Only weeks after Grant's death, The Gleaner reported that Mrs. Blaine had established a bank account to which members of the public could make contributions which would go towards taking care of the children. Speaking with The Gleaner earlier this week, Mrs. Blaine revealed the progress of her efforts.
"The response from the public has been phenomenal," she said. "I have received so many phone calls and emails. They haven't stopped coming."
Just last week she received calls from persons interested in getting involved in the efforts to raise funds for Richard's children.
"We even received a donation from a gentleman in Barbados who was touched by the story and wanted to help," she said.
Mrs. Blaine said to date, donations from private donors as well as corporate giants have totalled over $300,000.
"We contacted NCB (National Commercial Bank) and they generously contributed $55,000 to the account. They had several staff members, particularly from the New Kingston branches, who knew Richard," she said.
Mrs. Blaine added that the staff members of the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) have collected and donated $15,000. The Fellowship Tabernacle, led by the Reverend Al Miller, donated $119,000, which was the amount garnered from a special collection taken up from the congregation.
She said that a committee made up of persons who have contacted her and shown an interest in helping Grant's children has been formed and will manage the collected funds.
"Our goal is to raise $1 million which will be put in an interest-bearing account. The money will be used to finance the education of Richard's three sons," she said.
A second committee has been set up to look at ways to help other windshield wipers.
"We are not trying to institutionalise windshield wiping," she said. "We are trying to help those young men who are already out on the street corners. We are looking at ways to provide them with training in courtesy and self-esteem. We also want to see if we can provide them with remedial reading training."
Mrs. Blaine added that she was thankful to all those who have so far contributed to the fund, but noted that the task was not complete.
