NATIONAL BAKING INVESTS $200M IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

FASCINATING STUFF!
Education Minister, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites (right) is deeply engrossed in the display of work from infant school children at the launch
of ​National Baking Foundation at the Jamaica Pegasus. Joining him from left are: Christine Scott-Brown, Executive Director of the National Baking Foundation and Patron of the Foundation, Gary Hendrickson.

PACKING AWAY:
National Baking Company staff and volunteers actively packing the learning kits for the National Baking Foundation. The packages are distributed to over 2,500 early childhood institutions islandwide.

Kingston, Jamaica, September 4: The National Baking Company has invested $200 million over four years to assist nearly 3,000 children, primarily by providing learning kits to basic schools and by giving support to early childhood education programmes.

This was announced by Mr. Gary 'Butch' Hendrickson, CEO and Chairman of the National Baking Company at the recent launch of the National Baking Company Foundation held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel.

At the launch, Mr. Hendrickson said most of the intervention programmes for children were administered through the Crayons Count project, of which National Baking Company is the major sponsor.

He said the National Baking Foundation would seek to continue the company's focus on providing well needed resources for early childhood education, which is a critical part of nation-building.

 "The National Baking Foundation is our way of sustaining meaningful partnerships and establishing sustainable initiatives throughout Jamaica," said Mr. Hendrickson.

"The synergies created in our collaboration with thousands of people across Jamaica have motivated us to keep doing more. Their dedication, commitment and vision certainly provide an impetus for national development in Jamaica," he continued.

Four years ago, the National Baking Company made a commitment to develop the Crayons Count programme based on an idea broached by Deika Morris on. They committed to providing learning tool kits to some 2,500 basic schools and to actively participate in the campaign to make Jamaicans aware of the importance of early childhood education.

The National Baking Foundation will continue to be involved in the importation, packing and distribution of the learning materials and operate the mobile unit for Crayons Count.  In fact, the female employees who pack products at the National Baking Company are the ones who prepare the learning kits that are distributed to the schools. 

 "The Crayons Count-branded mobile unit is especially important in the campaign to make Jamaicans aware of the need to invest in early childhood education as it passes through the various districts," Mr. Hendrickson said.

The National Baking Company is also the major sponsor of such projects as:  Bold Ones of Manufacturing, Talk Up Yout and Union Gardens Foundation. Additionally, the company has donated to some 25 charitable organizations, including Food for the Poor, while investing over $20 million in providing school furniture islandwide.

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