TORONTO, ON (June 4th 2015) – Staff of Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment Ltd. and friends and family of Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation have teamed up again to build their second basic school in Jamaica, with Food For The Poor Jamaica and Food For The Poor Canada.
The partnership of MLSE, led by MLSE CFO Ian Clarke, and the Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation, led by Karl Hale, completed their first volunteer build with Food For The Poor Canada in 2013. Over $75,000 was raised for the building of Arlington Basic School in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica – 41 volunteers built the school, which accommodates 60 children. This year, the team raised $150,000 to build a school for 150 children; 70 volunteers will travel with the group to Jamaica on June 29th to build Triumphant Basic School in Montego Bay.
“It is such a joy to share in the rewarding work of building a school with two great partner organizations and their volunteers,” said Samantha Mahfood, Executive Director of Food For The Poor Canada. “Children of Triumphant Basic School will be thrilled with their new school and the Canadian volunteers that helped make this a reality.”
Over the last three years, Food For The Poor has built 50 schools in Jamaica, 10 of which were built by Canadian partners of Food For The Poor. The schools have provided over 5000 children across the country with access to a safe and happy learning environment.