$10M for 100 families- J. Wray and Nephew to splash out the cash in scholarship awards to mark its 190th year

More than 100 families will be relieved of their back-to-school expense through the J. Wray & Nephew Foundation's Scholarship Award come Wednesday.

Bursaries totalling $10 million, along with book vouchers and back-to-school kits, will be presented to 85 secondary and 37 tertiary students at the annual awards ceremony at J. Wray & Nephew's corporate office in New Kingston.

The scholarship programme, now in its 10th year, is open to members of the Seaview Gardens and Waterhouse communities in Kingston, and Appleton in St Elizabeth, as well as the children of J. Wray & Nephew staff members.

ELIGIBILITY

Applicants must maintain a 'B' average and be recommended by a community member, church pastor, or someone from the St Andrew South Police Division with whom the foundation collaborates.

Through the scholarship, J. Wray & Nephew Foundation hopes to encourage students along their path of educational advancement and provide opportunities to families facing financial constraints.

"Many of our applicants depend on these scholarships to offset annual school fees. We wholeheartedly believe in working closely with the community, as giving back and corporate social responsibility play a major part in Jamaica's growth and development.

"We at J. Wray & Nephew are committed to realising Jamaica's full potential." said the company's chairman, Clement 'Jimmy' Lawrence.

The J. Wray & Nephew Foundation has awarded more than $30 million in scholarships in the past decade, assisting hundreds of Jamaican students to complete their secondary education.

According to Lawrence, this reaffirms the company's commitment to positively shape lives through educational development and realising the promise of a better future for the next leaders of the country.

In striving to maintain open community discourse and better relationships within its neighbouring communities, the JWN Foundation also recently hosted the St Andrew South Police Communities Debate Competition, and supported projects at the Balmagie Primary School in Waterhouse, and Seaview Gardens Primary.