Hanover Charities hands out record J$37m

Hanover Charities, the charitable arm of the Round Hill Hotel, recently handed out cheques valued at a record $37 million for projects and scholarships, from funds generated from its annual Sugar Cane Ball, held earlier this year.

The cheques were presented to approximately 200 recipients at the official presentation ceremony, which took place at the Hopewell, Hanover-based hotel.

"This year, we have raised over $44 million; almost $37 million of this will go towards our annual grants and scholarship students," said Katrin Casserly, chairman of Hanover Charities.

The scholarship recipients include tertiary students from Hanover who are currently attending the University of the West Indies and other major universities and colleges, as well as 20 students who are enrolled at the College of Agriculture, Science and Education.

HELPING LOCAL STUDENTS

"All students must be from the parish of Hanover. We have very strict procedures in terms of our application form so we can see that individual families are in dire need," said Casserly, whose organisation has had a long-standing commitment to the advancement of education in the western parish. "These recipients have grades that are incredible, so these students have to be helped. They are right here in our backyard. They have the tools, they have the mind, the heart, the goal and the zest for life."

Casserly said the equipping and the preparation of the computer laboratories at three of the region's schools are also earmarked for funding. The schools, Rusea's High School's Campus II and the Churchill and Esher primary schools, are slated to receive a total of 66 computers - Rusea's 42 and Churchill and Esher 12 each.

One of the major highlights of the ceremony was the presentation of funds to the International University of the Caribbean (IUC) to cover the cost of scholarships for eight Hanover students (six boys and two girls) to pursue Bachelor of Science degrees in engineering technology.

Curlin Spence Robinson, the vice-president of IUC, said she was extremely happy for the partnership with Hanover Charities as the scholarships would impact rural youth, who would otherwise have no option for tertiary advancement, to attain international and local certification in electrical and a structural specialisations.

"It is going to cater, in particular, to a lot of young men, who are the ones who are usually engaged in those kinds of skilled areas," said Spence Robinson.