Governor-General Prof. Kenneth Hall (left) with (from left) United Way of Jamaica board member Marcia Erskine; Campaign Chair Neville Blythe; Chairman Alvaro Casserly and CEO Winsome Wilkins. The UWJ team paid a courtesy call on the Governor-General on May 30. - CONTRIBUTED
THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL of Jamaica, the Most Hon. Kenneth Hall, has pledged to support the thrust of the United Way of Jamaica (UWJ), aimed at encouraging Jamaican companies to issue a system of salary deductions to boost employees
giving to United Way.
The Governor-General made his pledge of a monthly contribution from both himself and Mrs. Hall, at a courtesy call paid on him last Tuesday, by UWJ Chairman Alvaro Casserly; CEO Winsome Wilkins, and directors Neville Blythe and Marcia Erskine.
His Excellency praised the UWJ directors for what he said was "the excellent support being given by the United Way to so many needy people and causes in Jamaica."
He said, "The mechanism of workplace deductions is an excellent way to raise funds and allows for better programme planning by the UWJ."
THE PARISH HAS SOUL
Mr. Casserly updated the Governor-General on other UWJ initiatives, including fund-raising promotions at the parish level. Pointing to strong loyalties people have to the parish of their birth, even when they work and live elsewhere, Mr. Casserly said, "The parish has soul and people identify with their parish." He said that the UWJ would be seeking the support of the customers in the various parishes in mobilising volunteerism parish-wide.
Mr. Blythe, UWJ campaign chairman, noted that a target of J$60 million has been set for 2006, and that it was his intention to exceed that amount via employee-giving and other strategies so that "more people and more communities across Jamaica can get needed support."
