The Sandals Foundation has donated J$575,000 worth of essential monitoring equipment to the Negril Health Centre, ensuring improved maternal care for over 100 expectant mothers annually. The donation includes a Digital Beam Scale and a Vital Signs Monitor, addressing critical needs for monitoring pregnant women at the facility.
The Negril Health Centre serves a vital role in the community, offering healthcare to pregnant women aged 16 and older. However, with vital observation instruments no longer functional, healthcare professionals faced challenges in delivering the best care. As part of its continued investment into the island’s healthcare infrastructure, the Sandals Foundation responded to the need, collaborating with local health authorities to procure the much-needed equipment to strengthen prenatal care for expectant mothers.
“Being able to monitor the developments during pregnancy ensures the health and safety of both mother and baby,” said Heidi Clarke, Executive Director of the Sandals Foundation. “The provided equipment will allow for early detection of potential problems as well as timely interventions to prevent complications during this vulnerable time of a woman’s life.”
The donation was made possible through coordinated efforts with the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA), which oversees the facility’s operations, and Jamaica Hospital Supplies, the designated supplier that facilitated the delivery of the equipment. WRHA representative Novlin Little expressed appreciation for the donation, emphasizing its positive effect on the mothers served by the Negril Health Centre. "This contribution means a great deal to the expectant mothers in our community," Little said. "With the new equipment, we can provide more accurate monitoring and improved care, ensuring healthier pregnancies and better outcomes for both mothers and their babies."
The Sandals Foundation supports mothers and newborns across the Caribbean by helping to provide the tools needed for safe pregnancies and early infant care. This donation is part of a shared effort to ensure that more mothers receive the care they need and that babies have a healthy start in life. It also aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal of ensuring good health and well-being for all, reinforcing the importance of quality healthcare for every mother and child.
With precision and passion, young athletes from across the island gathered at the Sandals Upton Estate Golf & Country Club on Saturday, April 12, for the 2025 staging of the Sandals Foundation Care for Kids Junior Golf Tournament. The event marked the official tee-off for this year’s Sandals Golf and Jerk Festival, set to return in full swing on May 31, 2025.
Designed to spotlight the island’s rising golf talent, the junior tournament saw 13 young golfers competing across three skill categories – putting, chipping, and driving – for a coveted spot in the upcoming Festival tournament. Defending champion Cavani James delivered a dominant performance once again, securing the top spot with 28 out of a possible 30 points, after winning two of the three categories and building impressively on last year’s form. Jace Sutherland, competing for the first time, showed remarkable consistency across all challenges and earned 22 points to place second. Rounding out the top three was Kavar Davis with 20 points, who came back stronger this year after narrowly missing out in 2024, proving himself a rising talent to watch.
Now in its second year, the Junior Tournament has become a key qualifier for the Sandals Golf and Jerk Festival, where junior and adult golfers will share the green for an event that blends thrilling sport with mouthwatering Jamaican cuisine.
“This is more than a tournament; it's a celebration of potential and community,” said Karen Zacca, Director of Operations at the Sandals Foundation. “Our Care for Kids Junior Golf Programme has been helping young people grow with confidence, discipline, and a sense of purpose, and we’re so proud of what they’re achieving. But this year’s Festival is also giving us the chance to do something really special. With the support of Dr. Fernandez and the St. Ann Health Department, we’re working to bring mobile dental care to children who need it most, especially those living in remote communities or living with special needs. By reaching them where they are, we’re helping to ensure that no child is left out when it comes to accessing basic, preventive healthcare.”
The upcoming Sandals Golf and Jerk Festival promises a dynamic mix of formats, with the course divided into three six-hole sections - scramble, better ball, and alternate shot, each featuring a jerk vendor and beverage station in a friendly competition to win golfers’ taste buds and votes.
“We’ve seen these young players grow not just in skill, but in confidence, maturity, and leadership,” said Jonathan Newnham, Director of Golf at the Sandals Golf & Country Club. “Some of them started in the programme barely able to swing a club, and now they’re holding their own alongside seasoned adults in a major tournament setting. That’s what this initiative is all about; giving them the tools, the environment, and the encouragement to thrive, both on and off the course. It’s been incredible to watch, and I think this year’s Festival is going to be another powerful example of what’s possible when young people are given a shot.”
The Sandals Foundation, celebrating its 16th anniversary this year, continues to make meaningful strides in education, healthcare, and community development. Proceeds from the 2025 Festival will support the continued development of the Care For Kids Junior Golf Programme.
The Sandals Foundation extends a heartfelt thanks to its corporate partners, Digicel Jamaica and The Best Dressed Chicken, along with the generous support of AC Hotel Kingston, Tropicars, Appliance Traders Limited, ATL Automotive, Cafe Blue, Caribbean Assurance Brokers Limited, Clubhouse Brewery, Couples Resorts, Caribbean Producers Jamaica (CPJ), Dolphin Cove, Jamaica Inn, Jamaica Observer, Rainforest Caribbean, Sandals Resorts International, Titleist, Island Routes Caribbean Adventures, Tour Jamaica Destinations, Tradewinds Citrus Limited, BCMG Insurance Brokers, Fontana and Wisynco Group Limited for making this year’s event possible.
Golfers eager to be part of this one of a kind fusion of sport, cuisine, and community upliftment can register now. Payments can be made via the Jamaica Golf Association’s online portal at https://www.jgagolfstore.com/. For further assistance, contact Joy Campbell at (876) 632-9446 / 632-9442, email jamgolf1925@gmail.com, or visit the JGA office at 152 Constant Spring Road, open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The sound of a ribbon being snipped, the genuine show of emotion expressed through happy tears, and the gleeful laughter of children at play – these were the moments that signified a dream come true for Sudbury Primary and Infant School in rural St. James.
On Friday, the school officially opened a brand-new playground, a space that will help children aged 3-6 thrive through enriched learning and recreation, contributing to their holistic development.
Valued at approximately J$800,000, the new playground is equipped with four swings, two seesaws, and a jungle gym. It became a reality thanks to a generous donation from Wanda Keefer, the owner of All Seasons Vacations out of Pennsylvania, and was facilitated by the Sandals Foundation.
In her speech at the opening, Suzanne Davis, Principal of Sudbury Primary and Infant School, highlighted the profound importance of play in children's growth. "Play helps our children develop socially, physically, and educationally. They need to play and interact with one another so that true learning can take place. This dedicated play area will encourage students to continue learning beyond the classroom, fostering cognitive development and essential life skills such as socialization and teamwork," Davis shared.
She went on to express her deep appreciation for the addition of such an important tool in the school’s mission to nurture well-rounded, active students who understand the value of a healthy lifestyle. "We are a rural school, and sometimes it feels as though we are forgotten. But thanks to the Sandals Foundation, we've been rescued," Davis said with heartfelt gratitude.
For Wanda Keefer, the driving force behind the new play space, the day was one of deep joy and reflection. She first visited the school five years ago, when she sponsored over 300 backpacks filled with school supplies. "This school was out in the middle of nowhere, yet the children here touched our hearts. We dreamed of returning one day to do something even bigger for them," Wanda recalled, holding back tears as she remembered her first visit. "I’ll never forget the moment I discovered that they [kids] didn’t have a playground and when the Principal told me, ‘We don’t have a playground, but we make the best of what we have.’ From that moment, I promised myself that we would build them a playground."
Though Wanda didn’t know how she would make that dream a reality, she was determined. Along the way, there were many challenges, including setbacks caused by the pandemic. But she pressed on, and eventually, with the help of her team and the Sandals Foundation, the dream came true.
When given the opportunity to name the new space, Wanda chose to honor her late husband, Terry Kershner, who passed away from cancer 14 years ago. "Terry was always deeply involved with the Sandals Foundation. Coming here today and seeing the sign for 'Terry’s Playground' was such a special moment," she said, her voice filled with emotion.
Wanda expressed her profound gratitude to her team, who had worked tirelessly alongside her for over a year to raise funds for the playground project. "Reaching this point feels like a miracle, and I am forever thankful to my team, my family, and, of course, the Sandals Foundation for all the support and logistics that made this dream a reality," she said.
In addition to the new play area, Sudbury’s students also received three large boxes of school supplies, lightening the financial burden on some parents.
Principal Davis, while thanking Wanda and the entire team for their generosity, encouraged them to continue making a positive impact in the lives of local children. Your efforts help pave the way for our children to become educated global citizens. You’re making a profound impact on Jamaica’s future," she said warmly.
Through various partnerships, including collaborations with travel partners like Wanda, the Sandals Foundation is dedicated to empowering students across the Caribbean. By providing essential tools for academic and psychosocial development, their projects strengthen key programs and infrastructure, helping students thrive in all aspects of their lives.
The capacity of farmers in and around Saint David to create value-added products, reduce produce loss, increase earning potential and improve their livelihoods has been significantly enhanced with the opening of the GRENROP Coconut Processing Plant and Chill Room.
The project, which benefited from a US $78,000 donation from the Sandals Foundation was made possible with support from Grenada’s Ministry of Agriculture, the Chinese Agriculture Mission, the World Bank’s Agricom project, and the International Trade Center.
The Agro Processing Plant will facilitate the manufacturing of coconut flour, coconut flakes, virgin coconut oil and coconut cooking oil through grating, straining and boiling. To date, the team has secured local markets for the products including four (4) hotels that will receive virgin coconut oil and coconut flakes to be used in their spas, and two (2) supermarkets that will receive all by-products.
Speaking at the opening of the facility on April 3, President of the Grenada Network of Rural Women Producers (GRENROP), Theresa Marecheau (pr. Marryshow) said, “This [processing plant] not only impacts the community, but Grenada as a whole. As the market increases, we will be able to employ more people, support the demands that we have, and keep foreign exchange in the country.”
The introduction of the chillroom Marryshow said, will benefit the wider farmer community who will be able to deliver produce in bulk once a week, where it can be stored for up to a month without spoilage.
“Without a chill room there is remarkable spoilage taking place in the fields. We now have storage facility with a receiving room, weighing area and storage equipment to keep bulk orders from three to four farmers per week. We are now able to store, package and deliver to hotels two or three times a week, and farmers are able to increase their production because they now have a direct market,” said Marryshow.
For its part, the Sandals Foundation funded the renovation of the buildings that host the processing facility and the chill room, a water catchment system to support its operation, as well as the purchase, shipping, and installation of all machinery for the production facility.
Heidi Clarke, Executive Director at Sandals Foundation, said, “By having the capacity to transform raw agricultural products into higher-value goods, each farmer will be able to increase their income, explore new and might I say global markets, and ultimately contribute more to local economy and the island’s food security.”
Speaking to the longstanding partnership between the philanthropic organisation and the female-led farming group, Clarke said, “GRENROP sought to create a space for women from all backgrounds and experiences to be empowered through agriculture knowledge, access to technical expertise and the right technology to make informed decisions about their livelihoods and lives. When the Sandals Foundation met and became partners of GRENROP our goal was simple – utilize the network and resources we have at our fingertips to support the efforts of this group of focused, resilient, and visionary women.”
Since 2016, the Sandals Foundation and partner donors have invested some US $200,000 in the empowerment of the female and vulnerable youth farm group by supporting the construction of two shade houses, providing water catchment, storage and irrigation technology facilitated training in agriculture business management, record keeping, marketing, conflict resolution, plant care, crop management, and pest control. The organisation has also funded the provision of key farm input like seedling trays, seeds, seedling mixture, fertilizers, and labels to help the ladies embark and have a strong presence within the world of value-added products.
Established in December 2000 as a space where female farmers could gain financial independence through agriculture, the Grenada Network of Rural Women Producers (GRENROP) is now home to 75 female farmers - ages 40 - 75years old, 12 male farmers, 4 fulltime youth farmers under 35 years old, and 3 budding female farmers under the age of 10 whose parents have registered their daughters to be part network.
