Jamaican charity Pollyanna Project Inc. marks 30 years with New York gala

Atop Terrace Park’s fourth floor inside the glitzy Crystal ballroom, over 150 people marked the occasion in opulent style.

The night, however, belong primarily to those who have made quite a telling contribution to this Jamaican-run US-registered charity, as they were rightfully honoured for their sterling service.

The Brooklyn Nets, DGC Capital, Ozone Refrigeration, Everet Owens, Rhonda Benn-Valerio and Rabbi Keith Elijah Thompson were the honourees on the night for their trailblazing efforts throughout these decades.

Owens, a native of Westmoreland, Jamaica, is one of the original members of the Pollyanna Project and has been a main contributor over the years.

Classified as a servant leader, Owens was most pleased by the recognition. “It is indeed an honour to receive this great award and I am truly, truly humbled,” she said. “I am deeply proud to be a supporter of the Pollyanna Project and over those 30 years I have witnessed its impact it has done around the world.”

Guyanese-born Benn-Valerio is the founder of a charity herself – the Caribbean Girls Mission of Hope – and has lived a life of service to such an extent that she is an appointed United Nations Peace Ambassador and advocate for young women.

With her missions taking her to seven countries and four continents already, Benn-Valerio said the partnership between the Pollyanna and her team has “impacted lives in different parts of the world” and “people that we don’t even know”.

“The Pollyanna Project is doing an amazing job,” she added. “It’s not for us to keep our blessings but for us to share our blessings.”

Spiritual leader and teacher, Rabbi Thompson is well known in the state of New York, where the Jamaican native is hailed as a unifying force of law and order, and an advocate of justice and equality.

NBA franchise Brooklyn Nets has been a major partner of the Pollyanna Project by providing a lot of educational resources. DGC Capital is a major player in the construction industry in the northeast of the United States, while Ozone Refrigeration takes on all the hassle in shipping and logistics for the charity.

In expressing gratitude on behalf of DGC Capital, Joanne Wilder says “Pollyanna Project’s mission to provide humanitarian relief to underprivileged people resonates deeply” with the company and they see this as their responsibility to help create positive change in people’s life.

These honourees and many other donors, sponsors, supporters, and volunteers have all bought into the vision that Carmen Hinds envisaged first in 1994.

Hinds’ children Donna Stewart and Velana Creary had only been living in the United States for a couple of years when their mother, who never traveled overseas, shared with them her vision to host its first Christmas treat in their hometown of Bodles, Old Harbour in Jamaica.

Writing in the charity’s commemorative journal, Stewart said her response during that conversation with her mom was quick, decisive and in the affirmative.

Thirty-four children were feted at that Christmas treat in December ’94 to mark the first major step of a journey that has touched thousands of lives not only in Jamaica, but to date in other Caribbean nations and countries in Africa.

This the children of ‘Miss Polly’ achieved despite her sudden passing a few months later after hosting their first treat.

Through blood, sweat, and at times tears they have managed to create a movement with the potential to outlive them all.

Stewart said: “I want to thank our loyal members, both past and present, who serve as the Board of Directors, our generous sponsors, our selfless volunteers and our faithful friends and family. We could not sustain and continue without your belief in our mission. We will need your continued support now more than ever as our responsibilities have increased exponentially.”

Dr Marsha Smith is among the many individuals who the Pollyanna Project touched immensely. She was on the verge of dropping out of university, after her mother was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor, when the Pollyanna Project stepped in and played a major financial and supportive role to ensure she completed medical school. Now a certified doctor of only few months old, Dr Smith shared a touching testimony about her journey, before stating the joys of “being your brother’s keeper”.

Delivering the main address, Dr Smith who is now a full-fledged Pollyanna volunteer, said: “Giving back and offering a helping hand provides such an awesome opportunity to persons on the receiving end. Sometimes you are unable to meet those who may have helped, but the feeling and purpose of joy to those who you may have come to help is enough to push you to continue to help others.”

As the curtains came down on what was undoubtedly a fantastic night of celebrations, the organisers of the Pollyanna Project now set their focus on commemorating the year with other activities. Plans are already afoot for this summer in Jamaica as well as Sierra Leone in West Africa later down the year.

That this charity has been able to spread its wings so far and wide is a symbol of its growth in keeping with its stated mission of lifting people from “subsistence to a life full of potential and promise”.

Editor's Note: For video highlights from the Pollyanna Gala visit our social media platforms.