Dalton Laing, Gleaner Writer

Dale McCook (right) confers with his bigger brother Sam, a pastor, during a presentation at the launch of the Selma McCook foundation at the Assemblies of Holiness Church in Westmoreland recently. Selma McCook, who died in 2001, was a stalwart at the church, and a scholarship fund was established in her honour by her five children, in collaboration with the church. - Photo by Dalton Laing

Westmoreland:

The need to develop leaders who have community development at heart is the main driving force behind the Selma McCook Foundation, which was launched in Caledonia, Westmoreland, on Sunday.

The children of the late Selma McCook - Sam, new pastor of the Hope Fellowship Church; Dale, an engineer and deacon in the United States; Oral, managing director of OGM Integrated and president of the Advertising Agencies of Jamaica; His Excellency Wayne McCook, Jamaica's Ambassador to China; Robert, managing director for Caledonia Enterprises; and Beverly, businesswoman - facilitated the Caledonia Assemblies of Holiness Church during a memorial service formalising the foundation.

The focus of the foundation is to provide scholarships for children in and around the Caledonia area with special emphasis on those involved in church.

Last year, 10 students received assistance, and that number is expected to increase.

"If we provide the opportunities for students to better their education it is equivalent to teaching somebody to fish rather than just giving them fish," said Dale McCook, outlining the reasons for the foundation.

Awarded based on needs

According to his brother Sam, the foundation will be administered by a board of directors, which will include family and church members, with the responsibility of managing its resources. He said the board will appoint a selection committee that will approve and award scholarships.

The criteria for the scholarships are based on needs, academic achievement with emphasis on effort, character and conduct. Areas of assistance are tuition, lunch grant and back-to-school preparations.

Selma McCook died in 2001 at the age of 74. She served in the church for 44 years in several capacities.