Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor 
From left, reggae artiste Cherine Anderson; K.I.D.S. manager, Hilton Kingston, Meisha Harris, and Nereka Haynes, Future Kids, all eager participants of the charity programme, also share in the joyous occasion. - Contributed
Luvs, in an age where corporate community responsibility has been replaced by greed when those from that world do step up to the plate, often to burnish tarnished images, or create a photo oppportunity, ever so often, a real gem comes to the fore.
In doing so, they make a contribution that makes a lasting impact on the lives of those with whom they interact. This actually makes a tangible difference. When this is done, it should be so lauded, not for heaping praises on those who go about engineering that change, but more so to shame corporate entities into being their brother's keeper.
My dears, simply put, way too many corporate entities neglect their responsibility of giving back to the communities from which they derive their wealth. Instead of taking corporate duty seriously, they too get in the game of blame-the-government syndrome! They add little substance to the ongoing dialogue of moving the nation forward, but talk the loudest about what is wrong with us without even being astute enough to acknowledge that by their own thoughts and deeds, transformation can begin.
Corporate responsibility
Group chief executive officer, Jamaica Broilers Group of Companies, Robert Levy (right), and general manager, Hilton Kingston, Frank Rushovel, boot up a computer donated to the Ruby Madden K.I.D.S. Basic School, in Spring Village, Old Harbour. Also enjoying the moment are students from the Ruby Madden K.I.D.S. Basic School. - Contributed
Ironically, it seems that it has been expatriates who have been leading the way when it comes to shouldering corporate responsibility. In this respect, they, by individual and or collective effort, have been effecting meaningful change in the lives of thousands of Jamaicans.
As it was when young Anders Jones, son of U.S. international financial consultant and venture capitalist Mark Jones, started his Teens For Technology. To date, this organisation has spearheaded the creation and equipping of computer labs in some 400 hundred schools, and facilitating teacher-exchange programmes in the process. So it is with the American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ), under the guidance of Ambassador Glen Holden and his charming wife, Gloria Holding, who have, for the last decade, made a difference in the lives of many through their contributions of cash and kind. So, too, has Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub, who, along with his team of volunteers and their organisation known as The Chain of Hope, took an annual trek to our shores and gave of his legendary skills as a heart surgeon to preserve the lives of some of our children.
Anyway my daalings, another expatriate who has been stepping up to the plate since his arrival here nearly six years ago has been the general manager of Hilton Kingston hotel, Frank Rushovel.
A son of Curaçao, Frank Rushovel is truly a world citizen, having lived in England, Nigeria, Brazil, Aruba, Trinidad and Tobago, Puerto Rico and Venezuela. He has walked with kings and queens, yet always remained grounded!
As Hilton's point man, it was his charge to manage and design the Hilton international corporate mandate that, all its branded properties, as part of its corporate responsibility, must undertake some form of community-based charity outreach programme. Here in Jamaica, Frank Rushovel and his team have made their charity the business of partnering with their clients to provide basic schools where there are none and where there are existing but inadequate structures, rehabilitate them.
Primary vehicle
To fund these projects, the Hilton's K.I.D.S. programme is the primary vehicle for the staging of events and during this calendar year, through a telethon and golf tournament, raised in excess of $10 million.
Well, talk about money well spent. The funds raised went towards building the Ruby Madden K.I.D.S. Basic School in Spring Village, Bushy Park, St. Catherine, in partnership with private sector giant Jamaica Broilers, and also a perimeter (security) wall for the St. Paul's Basic School in Olympic Gardens.
Last Monday saw the official opening and handover ceremony of the school in the quaint little town known as Spring Village, and oh my word, oh for a thousand more of initiatives like this one!
Luvs, we are talking a fabulous environment for learning here, consisting of three major classrooms, a kitchen, a canteen/dining facility, a conference room, principal's office, a large recreational outdoor field, with a fully equipped computer lab for the students. My dears, talk about a giant leap for mankind This was one such leap, and kudos to Rushovel of the Hilton, and his corporate partner in the oh so noble venture, Robert Levy of the Jamaica Broilers Group.
Indeed, it was one lovely mid-morning ceremony too with cultural and spiritual offerings a-plenty, as famed storyteller Amina Blackwood Meeks was definitely in her ackee.
Among the notables were the school's principal Lileth Givans; businessman Chunky Lopez; Marie Matthews of Cash Plus; Claudette Crooks; Carmen Patterson; the lovely Claudette Kinlocke; Meisha Harris, the Hilton's K.I.D.S. programmes manager, and Randy Finnikin who ably compèred the event; plus a host of parents and onlookers.
What a noble cause indeed!
