What is the Treasure Beach Foundation?

Treasure Beach Foundation is a U.S.-based organization which benefits the people of Treasure Beach, Jamaica. It is administered by a Board of Directors who live is the U.S. but are frequent visitors to Treasure Beach.

We are committed to working with the Treasure Beach community to improve and provide educational opportunities to maximize the residents’ potential to lead fulfilling, productive lives. We serve as advocates for many whose voices are often unheard.

We are a 501 (c) (3) non-profit foundation; this means all donations are fully tax-deductible in accordance with U.S. IRS regulations.

We have no paid staff members, pay no rent, and incur few outside expenses. Much of the professional assistance we require is provided at no cost by others who care deeply for Treasure Beach and share our commitment to its people. Therefore, unlike many other charities, we have absolutely minimal overhead.  This means that the vast majority of the money we raise—more than 90%—directly benefits the residents of Treasure Beach, especially the children. 

	2009 Scholarship Winners

What is the Scholarship Program?

Though Treasure Beach residents are hardworking and proud, there is a lack of dependable, ongoing work for most adults.  Most residents are self-employed, relying upon the uncertainties of fishing or farming or small shops to earn a living. And,  the minimum wage for salaried workers is considered legalized poverty by many experts, though most parents are not fortunate enough to hold a full-time, salaried position.

Education is expensive in Jamaica. For instance, to have their child attend a Jamaican high school, the family must bear the full costs of school fees, transportation, uniforms, books, school supplies, and lunches. Depending upon which high school a student attends (determined by the results of the GSAT—Sixth Grade Achievement Test), the total cost for one year of high school ranges from about $2,000 to $2,850 (U.S.). Unfortunately, school—especially above grade six—is often an unaffordable luxury in Treasure Beach.            

In 2006, Treasure Beach Foundation provided scholarships (on a competitive basis) to five outstanding students who graduated from Sandy Bank Primary School. The scholarships were awarded based upon numerous factors: scholastic averages, leadership potential, imaginative thinking, willingness to give back to the community, character, and standardized test results.

In 2007, we awarded six additional scholarships, one of them being the Stuart Duggan Memorial Scholarship—and continued to assist those who received the 2006 scholarships.

For 2008, we awarded six more scholarships—including the Stuart Duggan Memorial Scholarship.

And, in 2009, we awarded yet another five scholarships.  This means we have awarded scholarships to 22 students from Treasure Beach, some of whom are in their fourth (out of seven) year of studies.

Our students are attending some of the finest high schools in Jamaica, and many are honor roll, silver medal, and gold medal scholars.  So long as we are able to raise sufficient funds, this program will continue to grow in size and scope.

Treasure Beach Foundation scholarships are awarded for one year of high school. To have their scholarships “renewed” for the subsequent year, the recipients must maintain an excellent grade point average over the school year. Also, they must select another student (from outside their family) to tutor on a weekly basis—one way they can pass on the tradition of learning.

2009 Scholarship Recipients
Anath Genus Hampton School Full Scholarship	Tamara Ricketts Black River High School Full Scholarship	Shakera Smith Hampton School Full Scholarship
Bridget James Black River High School Half Scholarship	Cydonie Charlton Hampton School Half Scholarship
2008 Scholarship Recipients
Tajera Vernon Hampton School Full Scholarship	Shanalee Ebanks Black River High Stuart Duggan Memorial Scholarship; Full Scholarship	Shane Parchment Munro College Full Scholarship
Kamelia Lyons St. Elizabeth Technical Half Scholarship	Stephano Hynes Munro College Half Scholarship	Shandapaul Strachan Black River High Half Scholarship
2007 Scholarship Recipients
Kimberlee Taylor Hampton School Full Scholarship	Samantha Dicker Hampton School Stuart Duggan Memorial Scholarship; Full Scholarship	Whitney Abrahams Black River High Half Scholarship
Saran Genus St. Elizabeth Technical Half Scholarship	Timara Taylor Hampton School Half Scholarship	Shantel Williams Black River High Half Scholarship
2006 Scholarship Recipients
Mederana Williams Hampton School Full Scholarship	Donald Abrahams St. Elizabeth Technical Half Scholarship	Adrian Dixon Black River High Half Scholarship
Dave Lloyd Munro College Half Scholarship	Pierce Taylor Manchester High Half Scholarship

Why Treasure Beach Foundation Was Formed

Over the 20+ years Karen and Peter Kennedy have been a part of the Treasure Beach community, they have been enchanted by the area—and, most of all, its people. Treasure Beach Foundation was established as a means of providing support—and giving back to—the community that has embraced them.

Our first initiative (totally unexpected) was to collect money for the devastating emergency that resulted from Hurricane Ivan in September 2004. Treasure Beach Foundation collected more than $20,000 U.S. from more than 100 donors, mostly from guests who also loved the people, but also from caring villa owners, as well as relatives and personal friends. And, due to the generosity of so may, we were instrumental in supplying emergency rebuilding supplies to 132 families—enabling them to pick up the pieces and begin their lives anew.

We also collected a substantial amount of funds after Hurricane Dean in 2007, again assisting those who were not in a position to help themselves

What Else Has Treasure Beach Foundation Done to Assist?

In March 2005, Treasure Beach Foundation arranged for 14 enthusiastic students from the University of Virginia (U VA) to spend a week in Treasure Beach, working with students from Sandy Bank Primary School. In March 2006, the U VA student group grew to 24 wonderful students, again working at Sandy Bank. Twenty-nine U VA students worked at Sandy Bank Primary in March 2007. Twenty-four assisted at Sandy Bank Primary in March 2008. And, in March 2008, 36 U VA students assisted at both Sandy Bank Primary and Sandy Bank Basic Schools.

Funding for the U VA students is provided by the students themselves, meaning no Foundation funds whatsoever are expended toward the U VA efforts. In fact, in 2008, the U VA students contributed generously toward our scholarship fund.

The Stuart Duggan Memorial Scholarship

We are exceedingly proud to have been chosen to award and administer the Stuart Duggan Memorial Scholarship as a part of our ongoing scholarship program. This scholarship was awarded for the first time in June 2007 according to the criteria already established by Treasure Beach Foundation. Like the other Treasure Beach Foundation scholarships, it covers school fees, transportation, uniforms, books and school supplies, and lunches. 

Stuart Duggan moved from the U.K. to Treasure Beach and died an untimely death from a heart attack when he was only 40 years old. While in Treasure Beach, Stuart turned his hand to a multitude of tasks— he sold artwork, worked with Treasure Tours, and managed the Wild Onion. But, Stuart is not remembered for what he did professionally; he is remembered for who he was as a human being. Stuart made the world a better place. And, he certainly made Treasure Beach a better place.  He loved the people of Treasure Beach and they loved him. He worried that some children in Jamaica did not get the education they deserved because of lack of money.

The funding for this scholarship is made possible by donations from Stuart’s family and friends as a way to continue to honor and celebrate his life through the life-changing gift of education in the community he had come to call his home.

The Children Need Your Help

Your donation, in any amount, will help us achieve our goals—and allow us to do even more in the future.  You can make a very meaningful difference in the life of an exceedingly promising student.  And, your donation will benefit  the entire Treasure Beach community.

To let you know how much your donation can do for the children, here are some examples of costs—and how we spend your contribution.  (Please understand the Jamaican high school year is 190 days, spread over 10 months.  Also, no two area high schools have the identical cost structure.):

• Your gift of $25 buys one pair of school shoes. (Each student needs two to three pairs for the year.)
• Your gift of $50 pays for school supplies for one student.
• Your gift of $90 covers a month of lunches and snacks.
• Your gift of $120 provides one month of transportation for a student.
• Your gift of $140 buys books for a student for the school year.
• Your gift of $225 will cover uniforms and shoes for a student for the school year.
• Your gift in any amount will make a big difference.

Please make your check payable to Treasure Beach Foundation and mail it to:

Treasure Beach Foundation
c/o Karen Kennedy
11124 Rich Meadow Drive
Great Falls, VA 22066 USA

Or donate online, securely, by clicking here:

Please feel free to email us with any questions you may have: Info@TreasureBeachFoundation.org.