Book Donation to Hill Top Juvenile

First Regional Co-operative Credit Union Limited has donated educational books valued at approximately a quarter-million dollars to the Hill Top Juvenile Correctional Centre in Bamboo, St. Ann. The donation, together with a contribution to the Centre's annual Christmas dinner, was made on Monday, December 12, 2011 as part of First Regional's commitment to its corporate social responsibility.

In her address to the wards, First Regional's Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Patricia Smith said that while cognizant of the many needs in society, First Regional had decided to continue its partnership with Hill Top to demonstrate its support and care for them. Ms. Smith described the book donation as an investment in the boys to help them prepare for the rest of their lives. She said the expectation was that the boys would care for the books and devote time to study. The 144 books donated included CXC and Phonics Books.

In 2010, First Regional contributed an industrial washing machine and dryer, while the Credit Union staff contributed an iron and a sewing machine to the facility. Ms. Smith reminded the boys that then, a song done by one of them said that "no one cared about them." She emphasized that both First Regional, as well as its employees care for them.

The First Regional CEO urged the boys to believe in themselves, so that they could be empowered and achieve greatness. She reminded them of former wards who had passed their CXCs and had gone on to study at the college level, and challenged them to replicate these achievements.

Superintendent Christie and Ms. Kereen Ashmeade received the gifts on behalf of the correctional centre, and a ward expressed thanks in a song he had composed.