Best project: Adopting Woman Inc
published: Monday | January 2, 2006

LEFT: In response to Flair's 21st anniversary appeal for corporate Jamaica to partner with the women's magazine in it's adoption of Womam Inc, the Jamaica Tea Club was the first to respond. On October 26, they presented the organisation with a substantial amout of toiletries, stationery, a fax machine, food, cleaning supplies and other essential items. The donation will be used at the Crisis Shelter where battered and other abused women are housed until they get back on their feet. At the presentation were (from left): Tanya Shirley, president of the club, founder Dr. Lanie-Marie Oakley-Williams; Woman Inc president Carol Sewell and secretary Joni-Gaye Cawley-Pinnock. The presentation took place at 7 Denehurst Avenue.
RIGHT: Woman Inc. executive members with donors to their trust fund. The trust fund was launched on December 5 at the Gleaner 7 North Street. The fund was launched as a result of Flair Magazine's adoption of Woman Inc. in celebration of its 21st anniversary last October. They are back row, left-right: Barbara Ellington, Lifestyle Editor/Chairperson Woman Inc. Trust Fund; Stacy-Ann Shaw, Woman Inc Volunteer; Yvonne Nicholson, Asst. Gen. Mgr. Jamaica Stock Exchange; Dwight Moore, President KIA Motors; Joyce Hewett, Education Coordinator, Woman Inc.; and Danielle Henry, Business Development/Customer Service Manager, Paymaster. Front Row, left-right: Patsy Mair, Woman Inc. executive member; Veenal Vaswani, trustee; Karin Cooper, the Gleaner's Corporate Affairs Manager; Nancy McLean, Jamaica Pegasus Hotel Manager; Catherine Davis. Maktg. &Communications Mgr, JMMB; Gloria Palomino, founding member/trustee and Carol Sewell, President, Woman Inc. - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

TO CELEBRATE our 21st anniversary, Flair Magazine adopted Woman Inc. who were also celebrating their 21st anniversary.

Woman Inc. is an non-governmental organisation (NGO) that works with women who are victims of rape, incest, domestic violence and sexual harassment. They also operate a crisis shelter for battered women.

Unfortunately in recent years, the organisation has been plagued by financial hardships. In 2004, they were unable to host their major fund raising event, their annual Trade Fair and Expo due to financial constraints. And over the years, support from Government has decreased.

When their plight was revealed in the October 17 issue of Flair, Jamaica took notice. The following week the Jamaica Tea Club made a substantial donation of toiletries and food items that are essential to maintaining the shelter. We salute and thank them and urge others to donate something to the organisation during the new year.

With the assistance of corporate Jamaica, a trust fund was established for the foundation and launched on December 5 with a total of $300,000 and commitments for future contribution. The Gleaner's Lifetyle Editor Barbara Ellington, whose idea it was to adopt Woman Inc. was asked to be chairperson of the trustees.

The fund was seeded by: The Gleaner Company, Jamaica Stock Exchange and Jamaica Money Market. Commitments were received from The Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, Paymaster and Kia Motors.

On December 18, the Jamaica Pegasus hosted Twilight Tea and high fashion with Canadian fashion/costume designer Antoinette Messam. All proceeds of the event will be presented to the organisation.

The Flair's adoption of Woman Inc. will continue until October 2006, with the hope that more of corporate Jamaica will assist in sustaining an organisation that provides such an essential service to Jamaican women. The work will continue and throughout the year we urge readers to support all the activities planned to assist Woman Inc.

- Nashauna Drummond