10 ATLANTA, GA: THE JAMAICAN Museum and Cultural Centre Inc (JMCC) recently hosted its annual fruitcake competition at Inspire Gravity Event Centre. The event, which celebrated the organisation’s fifth anniversary, also marked the launch of JMCC’s Brick Campaign. In her overview of the JMCC’s work, President Dr Apollone Reid highlighted the benefits students in Atlanta schools are reaping from programmes that emphasise Jamaica’s rich traditions and spotlight great Jamaican achievers. These initiatives aim to inspire students to reach their fullest potential. The fruitcake celebration is a cherished tradition in Jamaican culture, uniting families and communities, particularly during the festive Christmas season. The evening featured performances from Jamaican musical talents and other performing artistes. JMCC’s Vice-President, Christine Marzouca, joined a distinguished panel of judges to evaluate the high-standard entries. Dr Reid expressed her gratitude to the participants, with the three top contestants being awarded trophies and cash prizes. She expressed the honour to have international artiste Tammy Gammon and CEO of Jollywood Jamaica, Kanhai Condison, and thanked them for their extreme benevolence and sacrifice. The evening concluded with the launch of the Brick Campaign, giving Jamaicans worldwide the opportunity to memorialise loved ones on bricks that will become a permanent part of JMCC’s physical building. Dr Reid noted the campaign’s similarity to the one that helped construct the 1996 Olympic stadium in Atlanta. “The JMCC is honoured to partner with the same company that contributed to the Olympic stadium’s construction. Together, we will be able to contribute to the continued international awe and craving to be a part of Brand Jamaica, a tiny country with a powerful impact,” noted Dr Reid as she urged all Jamaicans to become more engaged in the project that will leave a legacy for Jamaica for generations to come. JMCC celebrates fifth anniversary Fruitcake Competition and Brick Campaign launched Directors of the Atlanta-based Jamaica Museum & Cultural Center (JMMC), from left are; Dr Karla Hylton, director of development; Dr Appolone Reid, president; and Christine Marzouca, VP, at the organisation’s anniversary and launch event, in Atlanta, Georgia USA. CONTRIBUTED MEMBERS OF the Ole Farmers Association North America Inc (OFANA) travelled to Jamaica recently for a milestone memorial event. The group was on the island to celebrate the 115th anniversary of the founding of the Government Farm School and the successive colleges – the Jamaica School of Agriculture (JSA), College of Agriculture (COA), as well as the current institution College of Agriculture, Science & Education (CASE). Founded in 2007, OFANA is the alumni organisation for graduates living in the diaspora – the USA, Canada, and the Eastern Caribbean. The members strive to bolster the agricultural and educational sectors in Jamaica. OFANA has worked tirelessly to make agriculture more resilient, innovative, and sustainable in Jamaica by investing in students and infrastructure. OFANA Northeast initiated the inaugural fundraiser in December 2009 and soon thereafter, instituted a scholarship fund to assist students with the ability and willingness to learn but who are financially challenged. The organisation disbursed its first scholarship in 2012. To date, the cumulative scholarship awarded is US$161,500.00 (J$22,850,000.00), including the US$15,000.00 awarded during the celebration. Wayne Samms, the Student Guild president, was awarded the Denise McLaughin Scholarship initiated by New York resident Normadelle Rose and friends in memory of the late Denise McLaughlin, an agriculturist and OID volunteer. Dr Dana Morris Dixon, minister of education, skills, Youth and Information was on hand and assisted OFANA President Norma Jarrett and other OFANA members in disseminating the scholarship awards. During her keynote address, Dr Morris Dixon thanked OFANA members for their impactful work in offering sustained scholarship opportunities, equipment, and infrastructure upgrade to CASE. HISTORICAL RECORD Another significant event during the weekend was the ribbon cutting for the OFANA Plant Tissue Culture Lab at CASE. OFANA members and donors provided US$120,000 in funding to build and equip this plant tissue culture lab (PTCL) at CASE. Assisting the OFANA president with this symbolic ribbon cutting was Floyd Green, minister of agriculture, fisheries and mining, who underscored the significant impact the OFANA PTCL stands to make in the agriculture sector. The facility will generate disease-free planting material in support of the national agriculture policy on food security. The lab will also produce drought-resistant seedlings for farmers for greater yield in severe drought situations. CASE President Dr Deslandes said that the facility has the capacity to produce 1.5 million clean plantlets annually. OFANA’s historical record of strengthening Jamaica’s food security, boosting agricultural development, and embracing climate-smart technologies is evident in the numerous donations to the college, including 151 brandnew Dell computer laptops and software donated during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as six high-powered microscopes donated in January 2024 to the animal science lab. President Jarrett expressed her pride at the positive impact OFANA continues to make in the agricultural and educational sectors. She said the association’s work has been “widely recognised for its far-reaching influence, and it is a testament to the commitment of our hard-working executive, members, partners, advertisers, and donors”. During the event, the president also accepted a proclamation from the National Education Trus, one of their partners, for the sustained contribution OFANA makes to Jamaica. A release stated:“OFANA has worked tirelessly to improve the community and lives of people both nationally and abroad. In addition to the work at CASE, OFANA, in keeping with their quest to ignite interest in agriculture at an early age, has established gardens in two Jamaican primary schools that have provided fresh organic vegetables for their lunch programmes. OFANA is currently partnered with alumni and other stakeholders to establish agriculture projects (vegetables, poultry, and small ruminants) in 10 high schools chosen as the prototype for future school projects. OFANA enjoys an excellent symbiotic relationship with President, Everett Hyatt, and members of the CASE Jamaican Alumni Association, their sister organisation in Jamaica, and is a proud member of both AJAA & UJAA. OFANA is open for membership to all past students of all the successive colleges. All donations to this non-profit organisation are tax deductible. “ OFANA joins in colleges’ anniversary celebrations THE MONTHLY GLEANER | FEBRUARY 13 - MARCH 15, 2025 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS
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