What is the Treasure Beach Foundation?
Treasure Beach Foundation is a U.S.-based organization which benefits
the people of Treasure Beach, Jamaica. It is administered
by a Board of Directors who live is the U.S. but are frequent
visitors to Treasure Beach.
We are committed to working with
the Treasure Beach community to improve and provide educational
opportunities to maximize the residents’ potential to lead
fulfilling, productive lives. We serve as advocates for many
whose voices are often unheard.
We are a 501 (c) (3) non-profit foundation; this means all donations
are fully tax-deductible in accordance with U.S. IRS regulations.
We have no paid staff members, pay no rent, and incur few outside
expenses. Much of the professional assistance we require is
provided at no cost by others who care deeply for Treasure Beach
and share our commitment to its people. Therefore, unlike
many other charities, we have absolutely minimal overhead. This
means that the vast majority of the money we raise—more than
90%—directly
benefits the residents of Treasure Beach, especially the children.
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2008
Scholarship Winners |
What is the Scholarship Program?
Though Treasure Beach residents are hardworking and proud, there
is a lack of dependable, ongoing work for most adults. Most
residents are self-employed, relying upon the uncertainties of
fishing or farming or small shops to earn a living. And, the
minimum wage for salaried workers is considered legalized poverty
by many experts, though most parents are not fortunate enough
to hold a full-time, salaried position.
Education is expensive in Jamaica. For instance, to have their child attend a Jamaican high school, the family must bear the full costs of school fees, transportation, uniforms, books, school supplies, and lunches. Depending upon which high school a student attends (determined by the results of the GSAT—Sixth Grade Achievement Test), the total cost for one year of high school ranges from about $2,000 to $2,850 (U.S.). Unfortunately, school—especially above grade six—is often an unaffordable luxury in Treasure Beach.
In 2006, Treasure Beach Foundation provided scholarships (on a
competitive basis) to five outstanding students who graduated
from Sandy Bank Primary School. The scholarships were awarded
based upon numerous factors: scholastic averages, leadership
potential, imaginative thinking, willingness to give back to
the community, character, and standardized test results.
In 2007, we awarded six additional scholarships, one of them being the Stuart Duggan Memorial Scholarship—and continued to assist those who received the 2006 scholarships.
For 2008, we awarded six more scholarships—including the Stuart Duggan Memorial Scholarship. This means we currently have 17 Treasure Beach students on scholarship. For 2009, we hope to award additional scholarships—and continue to assist prior winners. This means, so long as we are able to raise sufficient funds, this program will continue to grow in size and scope.
Treasure Beach Foundation scholarships are awarded for one year
of high school. To have their scholarships “renewed” for
the subsequent year, the recipients must maintain an excellent
grade point average over the school year. Also, they must
select another student (from outside their family) to tutor on
a weekly basis—one way they can pass on the tradition of learning.
| We
believe that helping the most dedicated, promising students
achieve their potential will assure them of being able
to continue their education beyond elementary school, encourage
them to give back to their community — and inspire
others to follow in their footsteps. |
2008 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
2007 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
2006 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
Why Treasure Beach Foundation Was Formed
Over the 20+ years Karen and Peter Kennedy have been a part of
the Treasure Beach community, they have been enchanted by the
area—and,
most of all, its people. Treasure Beach Foundation was established
as a means of providing support—and giving back to—the
community that has embraced them.
Our first initiative (totally unexpected) was to collect money
for the devastating emergency that resulted from Hurricane Ivan
in September 2004. Treasure Beach Foundation collected more
than $20,000 U.S. from more than 100 donors, mostly from guests
who also loved the people, but also from caring villa owners,
as well as relatives and personal friends. And, due to the
generosity of so may, we were instrumental in supplying emergency
rebuilding supplies to 132 families—enabling them to pick
up the pieces and begin their lives anew.
We also collected a substantial amount of funds after Hurricane Dean in 2007, again assisting those who were not in a position to help themselves
What Else Has Treasure Beach Foundation Done to Assist?
In March 2005, Treasure Beach Foundation arranged for 14 enthusiastic students from the University of Virginia (U VA) to spend a week in Treasure Beach, working with students from Sandy Bank Primary School. In March 2006, the U VA student group grew to 24 wonderful students, again working at Sandy Bank. Twenty-nine U VA students worked at Sandy Bank Primary in March 2007. Twenty-four assisted at Sandy Bank Primary in March 2008. And, in March 2008, 36 U VA students assisted at both Sandy Bank Primary and Sandy Bank Basic Schools.
Funding for the U VA students is provided by the students themselves, meaning no Foundation funds whatsoever are expended toward the U VA efforts. In fact, in 2008, the U VA students contributed generously toward our scholarship fund.
The Stuart Duggan Memorial Scholarship
We are exceedingly proud to have been chosen to award and administer
the Stuart Duggan Memorial Scholarship as a part of our ongoing
scholarship program. This scholarship was awarded for the
first time in June 2007 according to the criteria already established
by Treasure Beach Foundation. Like the other Treasure Beach
Foundation scholarships, it covers school fees, transportation,
uniforms, books and school supplies, and lunches.
Stuart Duggan moved from the U.K. to Treasure Beach and died an
untimely death from a heart attack when he was only 40 years
old. While
in Treasure Beach, Stuart turned his hand to a multitude of tasks— he
sold artwork, worked with Treasure Tours, and managed the Wild
Onion. But,
Stuart is not remembered for what he did professionally; he is
remembered for who he was as a human being. Stuart made
the world a better place. And, he certainly made Treasure
Beach a better place. He loved the people of Treasure Beach
and they loved him. He worried that some children in Jamaica
did not get the education they deserved because of lack of money.
The
funding for this scholarship is made possible by donations from
Stuart’s family and friends as a way to continue to honor
and celebrate his life through the life-changing gift of education
in the community he had come to call his home.
The Children Need Your Help
Your donation, in any amount, will help us achieve our goals—and
allow us to do even more in the future. You can make a very
meaningful difference in the life of an exceedingly promising student. And,
your donation will benefit the entire Treasure Beach community.
To let you know how much your donation can do for the children,
here are some examples of costs—and how we spend your contribution. (Please
understand the Jamaican high school year is 190 days, spread
over 10 months. Also, no two area high schools have the
identical cost structure.):
- Your gift of $25 buys one pair of school shoes. (Each student needs two to three pairs for the year.)
- Your gift of $50 pays for school supplies for one student.
- Your gift of $90 covers a month of lunches and snacks.
- Your gift of $120 provides one month of transportation for a student.
- Your gift of $140 buys books for a student for the school year.
- Your gift of $225 will cover uniforms and shoes for a student for the school year.
- Your gift in any amount will make a big difference.
Please
make your check payable to Treasure Beach Foundation and mail
it to:
Treasure Beach Foundation
c/o Karen Kennedy
11124 Rich Meadow Drive
Great Falls, VA 22066 USA
Or donate online, securely, by clicking here:
Please feel free to email us with any questions you may have: TreasureBeachFound@earthlink.net
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