UNITED WAY OF JAMAICA SERVES AS FUNDMANAGER FOR PSOJ COVID19 RESPONSE FUND
Near $200M has been raised by the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ) Covid 19 Response Fund. This is approximately 80% of the target set. The project mobilized 1,215 volunteers, distributed 71,000 food packages in 52 communities, circulated 43,000 masks and undertook 781 health checks. That is a remarkable feat by any measure.
Conceptualized by PSOJ President Keith Duncan, the fund was launched soon after the virus appeared in Jamaica. Given its proven track record in fund management, the United Way of Jamaica (UWJ) realized that, the PSOJ and Jamaica would benefit from this experience, especially in times of disaster. Over its 35 years, UWJ has successfully managed funds from USAID and many other global entities.
Dr Forbes, recalls, “We reached out to the PSOJ, with the help of UWJ’S Governor and PSOJ VP, Mariame Robinson, highlighting several projects for which United Way of Jamaica had served as fund manager, including national disasters like Hurricane Gilbert, Hurricane Ivan and even the earthquake in Haiti where we managed funds sent via United Way Worldwide to assist that country. The PSOJ was convinced and invited United Way of Jamaica on board as Fund Manager of its Covid19 Response Fund”.
United Way of Jamaica rallied a full team of volunteers, including Board Directors and too its entire Secretariat, for this behind the scene support. Long-standing volunteer and Past Chairman of UWJ, Elon Beckford, Co-chaired the Oversight Committee alongside Keith Duncan. UWJ’S Immediate Past Chairman Ian Forbes,
Co-chaired the Allocations Committee and led the charge for the novel idea of a Virtual Run fundraiser. UWJ Board Director and PR Specialist, Marcia Erskine, brought her expertise to the PSOJ Communication team working on the project, and there were others.
While most mainly worked remotely, it fell on the shoulders of Finance Officer, Anthony Brissett, to become United Way of Jamaica’s primary ‘boots on the ground’. As he recounts, this made him feel “really good” as it gave him the opportunity to be involved in a national effort to “help those who would suffer the most from Covid19, those who either never had a job or had lost their job due to Covid19. Those who needed the PSOJ care packages.”
Anthony tells of the four bank accounts that needed to be opened in local as well as US dollar, and how he masked-up from the early days of Covid19 to ensure he got the required signatures for the accounts. He explained that the process involved some amount of footwork. However, he felt it was well worth his efforts when he considers that the PSOJ Response Fund raised the millions of dollars raised and the thousands of Jamaicans who benefitted from care packages under this wellneeded this initiative.
Brissett, now pursuing his MBA in Finance at the UWI, was also required to prepare weekly Financial Reports for PSOJ. These detailed reports tracked, among other important measures, donations, and disbursements. Guided by UWJ’S CEO, Winsome Wilkins, other staff members fed information to Anthony. Everything was laid-out in Excel Spreadsheets and every week data were collated, reports written and submitted. Anthony beamed with pride that he “never missed a deadline.”
“UWJ is pleased to have served the country, along with others like the JDF and the JCF” says Dr Forbes. “It’s what we do” explains CEO Wilkins, a UWJ stalwart who has served 35 years with the 35-year-old organization, “Our mandate at United Way is national. We serve the people of Jamaica and our strong contingent of volunteers enables our small Secretariat to achieve a great deal. We have been able to bring our fund management skills to this PSOJ project and ensure that every dollar can be accounted for. Transparency and accountability are hallmarks of the United Way of Jamaica.”