2007 Book Delivery

"Every child in the Class will have a book to open"

In it's first year, The Palmyra Foundation provided textbooks to approximately 2,000 four and five year old school children enrolled in all 11 public infant schools and infant departments in St. James parish. The distribution of 15,000 books started at the Montego Bay Infant School on August 30, putting smiles on the faces of around 500 children, parents and teachers.

With the help of volunteers from Bryan's Book Store and volunteers from the community, 11 more distributions followed. Said the principal at Cambridge Infant School describing the significance of the new textbooks in her job;- "For the first time in the history of the school, when a teacher asks the class to open their books, EVERY child in the class will have a book to open."

The budget of $4,400,000, which had been raised between the launch and the beginning of the 07/08 school year, enabled The Palmyra Foundation to supply ALL Infant Public School and Public Infant departments in St. James. The schools are as follows (list provided to us by the ministry of Education):

The Palmyra Foundation is spearheaded by the inspiring Kathi Constanzo, wife of the President of the Palmyra Resort & Spa, Dennis Constanzo. Her contagious enthusiasm and passion for the children of Jamaica has been transmitted to everyone involved in the project. Says Constanzo, the Chairperson and driving force of the foundation;-

"I believe that every child has a success story to live, as long as they have the basic tools. We are starting by helping 2,000 children today. Tomorrow we will help many more. Our ultimate goal is to provide textbooks, uniforms and school lunches to all the 40,000 plus children in St. James parish."

The Foundation Chairperson commended its partners from the private sector who have generously participated to make this year's book distribution a reality. "With the help many sponsors such as Billy Craig Insurance, Deloitte and Touche, National Commercial Bank and Miami based SB Architects and the many volunteers who have contributed both time and money to the foundation, we were able to raise our target of JA$4.4 million. Additionally, The Palmyra Resort & Spa has generously absorbed all operational expenses."