November 2007 Newsletter

Reggae on the Rock II was a big success, and a LOT of fun. Our final total after expenses is $5,200 raised for FOJ projects! Many friends from the Negril.com message board attended this year along with many people who attended last year. Also in attendance were many new FOJ supporters. I was happy with the increase in attendance to 100 people this year – next year will be even bigger and better.

Next year we will look for a venue that is bigger, but still has some “atmosphere”. Cousin’s Bar and Grill was great for a party, but not big enough for us. The Ark Band was a big hit with the crowd again. Everyone is asking that they return next year, so it looks like they will be our “official” ROTR band. We couldn’t ask for a more professional and fun group of people – thanks Ark Band! Next year’s event will be moved to October, although the date is not set. Make the trip – it is a weekend of fun, for sure.

Major progress has been made on our Little London project. Please see the update and the complete story written by the project directors – Glenn and Teresa McBride.

The fences at Happy Hearts Basic School and Little London High School have been completed. FOJ made major donations toward both, with thanks to all who donated to these projects. Additional funds raised by each school helped complete the fences. Your donations have made a difference for the kids at each school by helping keep them safe.

Another project FOJ is supporting is the Life Builders Young Men’s Ministry in Spanish Town, on the Eastern end of the Island, near Kingston. Near the inner city, Central Village New Testament church saw the need for a homework center for young men, age 9-18. We don’t often look beyond our comfort zone, which for many is a vacation in Negril, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios or other tourist areas. We forget that many of the young men of inner city areas will choose a life of crime if they are not offered an alternative. Life Builders provides this important alternative.

I am pleased to announce a new FOJ collaboration with a project led by a nurse in Syracuse, New York. We make these “pass through grants” possible for approved projects. In essence, FOJ provides the tax-exempt organization to accept donations for specific projects. The project director is in charge of the details and does all the work associated with the project. (Under the supervision of FOJ) Colleen Clancy, the project director, has a great My Space page that details what she has done and some plans for the future. This collaboration is in the planning phase right now, but Colleen will be conducting health clinics in Westmoreland and Hanover parishes soon. She has already made plans to donate some of the equipment she will use to groups that FOJ already supports. Thank you Colleen, and good luck with your project!

I recently got an email from Wayne Pearce, the founder of FOJ. He would like to hear from any of you who remember him. You can send an email to wpearce at scsengineers.com. He is back in California, and I hope to get him involved in FOJ again.

Be sure to take the new poll at our home page.

Results from the last poll:
Who makes your favorite patty in Negril?
50 – Niah
43 – Miss Sonia
41 - Neville, the Patty Man
15 – Norman
9 – Other (not specified)
3 – Out of Town Pastry
2 – Juicy J’s
1 – Likkle shop in Sav
1 – Patty Shack/next to Sea Splash

FOJ continues to grow. If any of our projects pull at your heartstrings and you want to make a difference in the lives of the children of Jamaica, please take a moment now to make a donation.