(L-R) Country Manager, UPS’s Caribbean GEO, Jose Oramas; Executive Director, Variety Children’s Charity, Donnah Russell; VP, Human Resources and Labour Relations, UPS Americas, Charnley Conway; Country Manager, UPS Barbados, Philip King; Minister of Industry, Donville Inniss; and Dean of St. Michael’s Cathedral, Very Rev, Dr. Dean Jeffrey Gibson, pose with the cheque for $40, 000 at today’s presentation. (GP)
Variety – The Children’s Charity of Barbados was today presented with a cheque for BDS $40,000 from the UPS Foundation.
Minister of Industry, International Business, Commerce and Small Business Development, Donville Inniss, in accepting the cheque on behalf of the charity, expressed gratitude for their “good corporate citizenry”, noting it would help to improve the lives of children who are ill or otherwise physically challenged.
He also added that it would go a very long way towards “enhancing the capacity of Variety to be effective and responsive in offering support to children in need under their various flagship programmes”.
Commending UPS’ employees for their focus on life skills for young people, Mr. Inniss said: “We have a lot of young people in Barbados that we can be extremely proud of. We spend a lot of time and energy focusing on the few who are doing negative things but we spend so little time highlighting those who are being positive in their life. And, I want to salute the Variety Club in really helping many of our people to show them that there are many positive things they can do.
“Many of our young people do come from very challenged environments …and when you have a charity like Variety that is prepared to provide a listening ear, to give guidance, and provide life skills, that can make a profound difference. If you are able to positively impact the life of just one child, you have done well in my book.”
Meanwhile, representatives of UPS Foundation explained that the grant would support Variety’s Life Skills Training project, which offers tutoring and mentoring to underprivileged and at-risk youth. The project helps to educate participants about personal hygiene, money and relationship management, family planning, career guidance, meal planning and personal health maintenance.
Vice President Human Resources and Labour Relations, UPS Americas, Charnley Conway, stated that his organisation was committed to supporting the children of Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, especially those who are ill, physically or mentally challenged.
“UPS is honoured to support Variety – The Children’s Charity of Barbados. Our goal is to empower programmes that make a lasting difference to the communities in which we live and work,” he said.
Established in 1951 and based in Atlanta, Georgia, the UPS Foundation identifies specific social areas to support and focuses on areas of volunteerism, diversity, community safety and the environment. It is responsible for facilitating community involvement in local, national, and global communities. In 2017, UPS and its employees, active and retired, invested more than $118 million in charitable giving around the world and recorded more than 2.9 million hours of volunteer service.
Variety, The Children’s Charity of Barbados, has been operating here for 20 years. Their mission is helping children who are mentally, physically or economically challenged. The charity runs a 12 to 14-week Life Skills Training project, which involves tutoring vulnerable children in life skills, mentoring and instruction skills not otherwise available to economically challenged children.