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Jamaican community acquires charitable foundation 2011/10/16 Oct 16 10:25 PM
Published on Share News (http://www.sharenews.com)
Jamaican community acquires charitable foundation
By RON FANFAIR
Canada's Jamaican community has acquired an organization that solicits charitable donations to sustain global small scale programs.
Consultant and philanthropist Betty Steinhauer officially handed over the People Bridge Foundation at a reception last week at the Jamaican Consulate.
Steinhauer created the foundation in 1997 to reduce poverty and promote health care in developing and under-developed countries.
Consul General George Ramocan acknowledged Steinhauer's generosity in making the charity available to the Jamaican community.
[1]
Pamela Appelt, Betty Steinhauer, Philippines C-G Pedro Chan, Jamaicaʼs H-C Sheila Sealy-Monteith and Diana Burke
Jamaicaʼs C-G George Ramocan,
"There were a number of organizations, including two universities in this city, that wanted to acquire the foundation," he said. "I want to thank Betty for this gesture and I am certain this charitable foundation is going to play a very significant role in helping the community to achieve its goals. This launch is important because it enables the Jamaican community here in Canada to further access tax-free donations to strengthen and support poverty alleviation projects not only in Jamaica but in countries around the developing world.
"We were one of the first countries here to mobilize funds at the time of the Haiti crisis early last year and we saw the need then for a charitable organization like this that would have assisted us to do more. It's a very vital development because we want to be able to reach beyond our communities."
Retired banking executive and former president of Project for the Advancement of Childhood Education (PACE), Diana Burke, heads the charitable foundation board.
The foundation will assist in the selection and funding of identified Toronto and Jamaican charitable projects.
People Bridge provides an automated facility through canadahelps.org for donors to contribute to these projects on a one-time or periodic basis from credit or debit accounts, and to generate receipts for the donations.
"I think what this organization shows you is that it doesn't take much to really make a difference," Burke said. "I am sure everyone of you has given to family and friends over the years. I think you are here because you know that a small gift could change somebody's life."
A friend of late diplomat Kay Baxter, Steinhauer has made several charitable contributions to Jamaican communities over the years.
In addition to canadahelps.org, individuals interested in donating to People Bridge can do so online by going to www.peoplebridgecharity.org [2] or by cheque payable to The People Bridge Charitable Foundation, 922 Eglinton Ave. W. P.O Box 85536, Toronto, Ontario, M6C 2C2.
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Source URL: http://www.sharenews.com/local-news/2011/10/06/jamaican-community-acquires-charitable-foundation
Links:
[1] http://www.sharenews.com/image/jamaicaʼs-c-g-george-ramocan-pamela-appelt-betty-steinhauer-philippines-c-g- pedro-chan-jamaica
[2] http://www.peoplebridgecharity.org/
http://www.sharenews.com/print/4835 Page 2 of 2
The People Bridge Charitable Foundation has a worldwide reach and the launch Photographs can be found at the following Web-Link: http://www.inrphotography.com/MSS1/index.htm
People Bridge Charitable Foundation Launch Photos at the Jamaican Consul, Toronto, Canada
INRPhotography.com
Immunization Donations to St Thomas Health Facilities in Jamaica.
This project was successfully launched January 23, 2013 with Board Member Dr. Pamela Appelt in attendance. The following are links related to the project.
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/latest/article.php?id=42447
http://go-jamaica.com/news/read_article.php?id=42447
Ministry of Health
NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 23, 2013
Improvements Coming for Princess Margaret Hospital in St. Thomas
Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson says a number of initiatives are in the works to improve the Princess Margaret Hospital in Morant Bay, St. Thomas. Speaking at the official handing over of items from the People Bridge Charitable Foundation for the immunization programme in the parish this morning (Wednesday, January 23, 2013), Dr. Ferguson said the Ministry has already sent out to tender for work to fence the hospital.
He added that an architect has been brought in to assist with the plans to renovate the Accident and Emergency section and approval has been obtained to put in place a new sewage system for the facility.
“I am happy to announce as well that the drawings have been completed for the construction of eighty six (86) housing units for staff. Discussions are now ongoing to source the funding for this project,” Dr. Ferguson said.
Meanwhile, the Minister thanked the People Bridge Charitable Foundation out of Canada for the donation of a refrigerator, 17 igloos and a length board (infantometre) valued at nearly $180,000 for the immunization programme in the parish. Fourteen health centres in St. Thomas are set to benefit from the donation.
“Our immunization programme is cited as a model for other nations. This foundation was laid in the 1970s. Implementing a stellar immunization programme has resulted in the elimination of a number of vaccine-preventable diseases and the reduction of infant and child mortality. The donation from People Bridge Charity Foundation will go a far way in assisting us to secure these gains,” Dr. Ferguson said.
Prior to the introduction of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), the infant mortality rate from infectious diseases, including vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, polio, neonatal tetanus, tuberculosis, diphtheria, bacterial meningitis and pneumonia, was high, at some 51 per 1000 live births in the 1960s and 32 per 1,000 live births in the 1970s. The infant mortality rate now stands at 21 per 1,000 live births.
Last year, the country achieved a hundred percent coverage for tuberculosis (BCG), 92 percent for polio, diphtheria, pertussis or whooping cough, tetanus (DPT), hepatitis B and haemophilus influenza type B (HIB), and 88 percent coverage for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR).
In 2007 and again in 2011, Jamaica won the Henry C. Smith Immunization Award. This award is given to the country that has made the most improvement in its Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) for the year.
Contact: MOH, Public Relations Unit Tel: 967-1561
Connecting people in need with the resources to succeed. 
Canada Revenue Agency Charitable Reg. No.: 86979 0766 RR0001
Dr. Pamela Appelt and Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson
INRPhotography.com
