Lowell Hawthorne greets the Minister of Education, Maxine Henry Wilson at the launch of Pennies For Change In Education Initiative.
JAMAICAN-BORN PRESIDENT and CEO of the United States' Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery and Grill, Lowell Hawthorne, officially launched his company's newest initiative to raise funds which will support educational projects in Jamaica at a reception held in his honour last Monday at the the Hilton Kingston Hotel.
Pennies for Change, a coin drive in all 100 Golden Krust locations across eight United States states, is expected to raise a minimum of US$500,000 per year (J$33.5 million). The funds, Mr. Hawthorne said, will be used to continue the Mavis Hawthorne Memorial Scholarship established in memory of his late mother and to develop a franchise programme in the University of the West Indies (UWI) curriculum.
UWI and Golden Krust are working together to introduce the programme, which will prepare students to contribute to the management and growth of the lucrative franchise industry.
The fund will also support selected educational projects in other Caribbean countries and the U.S.A.
Pennies for Change is the latest initiative in the company's drive to improve lives through education. Golden Krust already offers scholarships in the United States and at Mr. Hawthorne's alma mater Oberlin High School which is one of several educational institutions in Jamaica to benefit from the company's assistance.
Mr. Hawthorne, who received the Order of Distinction for Service to Commerce and Community Development at the National Honours and Awards Ceremony on October 17, 2005, also affirmed Golden Krust's commitment to using only authentic Jamaican ingredients in all its restaurants and bakeries. He said that Golden Krust, which has plans under way to expand into the remaining U.S. states and other popular migrant destinations, will continue to import Jamaican produce and support local primary producers.
A GREAT EXAMPLE
Extending her congratulations on Mr. Hawthorne's National Honours Award, Minister of Education, the Hon. Maxine Henry Wilson, said that his success was demonstrative of what could be achieved by maintaining focus and hard work. She said that Mr. Hawthorne's commitment to excellence and positive values made him a great example for Jamaican youths to emulate. Minister Henry Wilson said she was confident that Pennies for Change would go a far way in helping promising Jamaican students in the pursuit of their goals and thanked Mr. Hawthorne for his continued efforts to help fellow Jamaicans.
