Lady Allen, wife of Governor General Sir Patrick Allen recently toured the four facilities of the St Patrick's Foundation, which serve the communities of Seaview Gardens, Riverton (including the extension in Callaloo Mews), Olympic Gardens and White Marl.

Marcia McLeod, general manager of the St Patrick's Foundation, along with chairman, Mark McKenzie, and board members Fabian Brown and Peter Graham, were on hand to escort Lady Allen through the premises last Wednesday, where she was greeted warmly by residents, students and employees at each facility.

Also on hand were centre managers Pauline White (Christ the Redeemer), Junior Rowe (Riverton), Hermine Bascoe (St Monica's) and Wileen Pennant, acting manager at St Margaret's.

The St Patrick's Foundation, a non-profit organisation focused on human and community development, operates four facilities that provide early childhood education, HEART-certified skills training, remedial classes, as well as care for abandoned elderly and persons living with AIDS and Hansen's Disease, a feeding programme for the aged in the communities, and training and development of a marching band.

1,000 adults and children impacted

The programmes currently impact approximately 1,000 adults and children in the communities, many of whom prepared a number of special presentations to demonstrate their skills to Lady Allen.

In response, Lady Allen offered words of encouragement and inspiration to the staff, students and the elderly. She spoke of her love for children and those in need of special care, as well as her own career commitment to teaching and nursing and the passion that is so important in order to make the biggest and most positive impact for oneself and one's community.

Lady Allen challenged the students to become role models for their families and their communities.

Outstanding work

She congratulated the students and the foundation on their outstanding work in the communities and their continued achievements. These included 100 per cent passes in the Grade Nine Achievement Test in the two remedial training centres, a remedial student who became captain of his Schools' Challenge Quiz team, the creation of a model outreach programme by past students of the early childhood facility, and a band student who has produced two singles and is in the final stages of training in the Red Stripe Project Artiste programme.

Lady Allen also planted a pear tree in the garden at the St Monica's Home for the Elderly.

For further information or to donate your time, cash or kind, please call: 876-757- 2210, or visit: St Monica's Home for the Aged, St Margaret's Remedial & Skill Centre, Riverton Early Childhood Center, Christ the Redeemer Human Resource Centre.