More help for western Jamaica-based students
BY MARK CUMMINGS Editor-at-Large, Western BureauÂ
Thursday, August 20, 2015
YONKERS, New York
AT least three more western Jamaica-based primary school students are expected to get valuable scholarships this year under an initiative by Montego Bay/New York businesswoman Gwen Nicks-James, aimed at assisting needy Jamaican children.
At her 50th birthday party celebrations at the Royal Regency Hotel in Yonkers, New York earlier this month, the over 200 guests at the event made generous contributions to the Dream Castle Villa Scholarship Fund, established over a year ago to help Jamaican children with their education.
Nicks-James, who has several businesses in Jamaica, including the Dream Castle Villa, Dream Castle Restaurant and Lounge and Fresh Look Beauty Supplies (all in the Ironshore area of St James), had earlier advised those desirous of attending the party to contribute to the fund, instead of giving her presents.
Veteran broadcaster Barrington ‘Barry G’ Gordon, who shared emcee duties with other radio personalities at the party, commended ‘Lady Gwen’, as Nick-James is affectionately called, for her decision to forego birthday gifts.
“This tells me about the humility in the woman and what she stands for on the planet. To think that it’s her birthday, it’s her occasion to celebrate and she is saying, ‘whatever gifts you are thinking of giving me, make a contribution instead to my foundation where I am helping children’. That is so warm and a change from a corporate Jamaica that is so much in the ‘bling’ and putting on the parties with the champagne and enjoying themselves. She is doing the reverse. The party is hers, but anything in the way of contributions [is] going to others,” said Gordon, who is an on-air personality with the Montego Bay-based Mello FM.
He added: “It’s really wonderful when you have fellow human beings give and go beyond to help others. When you think about Gwen James as a philanthropist, with the many persons she has come in contact with, not just from Jamaica, but from as far as the continent of Africa… she has met and touched so many lives… she didn’t have to, for in her line of business she is doing well, but she is forever giving back and touching lives. I really respect the spirit in this woman… She is really an icon and I respect her.”
Last year, through
Nicks-James’ Dream Castle Villa Scholarship Fund, more than US$6,000 was expended to provide much-needed scholarships to seven primary school students in Jamaica.
“We did their uniforms, gym clothing, lunches, books, extra-lesson fees… all of those were paid for, and we want to do this every year for them until they get to high school; we really want to grow with them,” Nicks-James told the Jamaica Observer West.
The successful and highly respected businesswoman, who immediately fell in love with the beautiful Caribbean island of Jamaica when she first visited as a New York college student more than 30 years ago, says in the upcoming school year she plans to increase the value of the scholarships, as well as the number of beneficiaries to at least 10.
When asked why she decided to forego gifts for herself at her 50th birthday party, she replied: “I have two houses in the US, businesses in Jamaica, Mike (her husband) has an apartment… do I really need a gift?”
“If you come to my event and want to support me, support my foundation,” she said, adding that she enjoys giving back and lending a helping hand.
“It brings me joy knowing that my efforts will greatly help to provide resources and opportunities to someone in need.”
The scholarship programme has complemented several other charitable events undertaken by Nicks-James to assist Jamaicans in recent years, including back-to-school treats for scores of students across western Jamaica, donations to several child-care facilities and the Autism Society of Montego Bay, as well as the staging of the annual Dream Castle Beauty Pageant.
Nicks-James quietly contributes to many persons and organisations both in Jamaica and the United States,” said Christopher Castriota, the community relations officer at the Consulate General of Jamaica in New York.
In the meanwhile, Nicks-James told the Observer West that she is working assiduously to raise more funds for her foundation in an effort to assist more children, not only in Jamaica.
“I want to do this all over the Caribbean. I have already contacted my friends who work at several banks in New York, and I have my clients who come to the villa (Dream Castle) and they have all promised to do something; and if they can do that, that will be a blessing,” she said.
Additionally, she has created a gofundme account (gofundme.com/dreamcastle) to enlist her many friends and colleagues as she seeks to fund the education costs of the less fortunate children.
Meanwhile, amidst the pomp and pageantry during the recently held birthday celebrations, Nicks-James was lauded by friends, family and well-wishers for her contribution to the uplifting of the less fortunate.
“Gwen [Nicks-James] is no ordinary citizen on the planet,” Gordon remarked in making a toast. Jamaican singers Lukie D, Ed Robinson, as well as other artistes, including Dance Master, Ray Goodman and Brown and Ineeks Lawerence, paid tributes in songs to ‘Lady Gwen.’
She was presented a framed citation by Lauren P Raysor, of the Mount Vernon City Council, on behalf of Mount Vernon Mayor Ernest Davis.
