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Digicel Foundation gives boost to Grants Pen Skills Training Facility The non-profit organization, Digicel Foundation presented a commitment of six million dollars($6Million) in matching funds to the Stella Maris Foundation, towards the purchase of the building housing its skills training and childcare facilities. Denis O’Brien, Chairman of Digicel Group and Patron of the Digicel Foundation who handed over the commitment cheque, announced that the Digicel Foundation would be providing the funds for the project, up to a total of J$6Million. Pointing out that the Digicel Foundation’s main objective is to encourage self-reliance and community development through education and social projects, Mr. O’Brien declared during today’s Site Tour and Handing-Over Ceremony at Stella Maris Foundation, “We are delighted to become involved with the Stella Maris Foundation which is one of the best examples of a community centre and its relevance to the community. We are honoured to be your partners in this project.” The Digicel Group Chairman also proposed that personnel from Digicel Jamaica assist the Stella Maris Foundation in marketing strategies for the woodwork, sewing and papier-mache products produced by Stella Maris Foundation. Located at 1 Grants Pen Road, Kingston 8, the Stella Maris Foundation serves the innercity community of Grants Pen and its environs. Meanwhile, in outlining the objectives of Digicel Foundation, its Chairman, Harry Smith, told today’s Handing-Over ceremony that this non-profit organization distributes and utilizes resources on a charitable basis; as it seeks to improve the quality of life in communities across Jamaica and the region. Mr. Smith lauded patron of the Foundation, Denis O’Brien for his philanthropic initiatives in Jamaica, Ireland and on the international scene, especially with regard to his work with the disabled and several charitable groups. He also complimented Mr. O’Brien on his work as Chairman of the Organising Committee of the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games. Monsignor Richard Albert , Founder of the Stella Maris Foundation today gave a jumpstart to the fund-raising activities for the Stella Maris building project , with the donation of $1Million dollars. The money was part of the cash prize received recently by Monsignor Albert when he copped the Opus International Award for Humanitarian Services. Matching the donation of Monsignor Richard Albert, Major General Robert Neish, Executive Director of the Digicel Foundation handed over the first million dollars of his organization’s commitment . The Tour and Handing-Over ceremony for Stella Maris Foundation was chaired by Chairman of the Foundation, Jean Lowrie-Chin. Among the attendees were : Leslie Buckley, Vice-Chairman of Digicel Group; P.J. Mara and Lucy Gaffney, Board Members of Digicel Group; David Hall, Chief Executive Officer of Digicel Jamaica; and Burnett Cooke, Board member of Digicel Foundation.
