“Books4kids Jamaica” Begins 2013 Distribution Of 10,000 Free Books To 5,500 Children

“Books4Kids Jamaica to commence distribution of books, crayons and pencils at Port Antonio Infant School, Portland, on Monday September 2, 2013. The Montego Bay based charity to visit 50+ schools in towns, mountains and rural areas across the island to hand out books and educational materials valued at over US$100,000.”

Under the slogan “The future is bright, when you can read and write!, Books4Kids Jamaica is set to commence its 2013 book distribution with the delivery of books to the 3, 4 and 5 year old Kindergarten students at Port Antonio Infant School, Monday September 2. Each of the 200 children will receive a bag containing a colorful 300-page BrainQuest Workbook, 1 Scholastic reading book, a pack of crayons and a pencil on their first day of school.

Said CEO of CVM TV, Andrew McGlone, who will form part of the Port Antonio distribution team; “It is always rewarding to see hard work and dedication for a worthy cause come to fruition, and we here at CVM TV feel very humbled to be part of this process.”

An instrumental sponsor and supporter of the program, CVM TV helped raise the majority of funds towards this year’s books through a LIVE national broadcast of the charity’s 2013 “Online Charity Auction” in Montego Bay. Stated McGlone: “We get it: Jamaica’s future begins now. Molding the minds of tomorrow’s leaders, through our partnership with the Books4Kids Jamaica program, is our way of helping to shape Jamaica’s future. That is why the next step, which is getting the books into the hands of those kids who need them most, is such an important one. It is a step that CVM TV is happy and honoured to be taking with The Palmyra Foundation and Books4Kids Jamaica.”

The distribution team will continue to Redwood, St. Catherine, where Palmyra Foundation Ambassador Alsion Roach will personally hand out books to the children at her alma mater on Tuesday September 3. A long term sponsor of The Palmyra Foundation’s Books4Kids program, the New York based CEO of The Alsion Roach Group is passionate about Early Childhood Education in her native country and hometown. Said Roach; “I deem it a privilege to be associated with this cause as it provides an opportunity to advance the educational agenda in a practical manner. Impacting lives and making change are pivotal elements for any socio-economic development and I encourage the continued good work of the team year over year. Jamaica benefits from the benevolence of supporters and establishments that know the value of being altruistic.”

Said Lascelles Burnett, Principal of Redwood Primary School; “Most of the parents within this area are low income earners or unemployed, so we are happy that Books4Kids Jamaica can assist parents and students in minimizing their financial burden during these dire economic times.”

The Montego Bay based charity is set to do its largest distributions to 500 four-year old children at Montego Bay Infant School on Wednesday September 4 at 10:00 am, while the schools 500 five-year old children will receive their books on Tuesday September 9 at 10:00 am. Says Ragni Trotta, Chairperson of The Palmyra Foundation and the Books4Kids Jamaica program; “We invite all sponsors and supporters to personally come and hand out books to the children. It is the highlight of the year for all of us.”

While this year’s books were shipped to the island courtesy of Seaboard & Freight Jamaica Ltd, local transportation company Jamaica Tours Limited (JTL) is providing its services for the 6thyear running.

2013 program sponsors are CVM TV, The Gleaner Company, Jamaica Tours Ltd, Seaboard & Freight Jamaica Ltd., Delta Airlines, Frame by Frame, Barry Segal, Billy Craig Insurance, Crestone Capital Advisors, Dr. Glenn Tyler, Keith Thorpe Ltd., Resort Condominiums International (RCI), the Usain Bolt Foundation, Landmark Associates and Resort Properties Jamaica.

The Palmyra Foundation also thanks The Ministry of Education, The Ministry of Finance and Jamaica Customs as well as all the contributors and participants in this year’s fundraising event.