MIC Vacation Rentals is honored to support the Melbourne & Michael Folkes Foundation, helping inspire and empower young people while strengthening communities in Jamaica.
The foundation’s passion is to inspire, educate, transform, guide, and challenge the younger generation in the MIC Leader way and identify future leaders who will champion the Foundation’s commitment to perpetual prosperity and preservation of its legacy.
This vision is becoming a reality as Michael implements many initiatives to improve educational opportunities, foster economic development, provide health and wellness programs and create a competitive platform for the students and wider community of Friendship, in the island nation of Jamaica, West Indies, and the U.S.
History Of Our Foundation
The Melbourne and Michael Folkes Foundation, named in honor of my grandfather, was launched on April 14th 2014 at the Mount Waddy Primary School in Friendship, Jamaica. However, its history is deeply rooted in many, many years before that date.
When I was a child my mother left Friendship and my sister and I were raised by my grandfather and grandmother, Melbourne and Clementina Folkes. My grandfather was the greatest role model a boy could have, and his influence and his Christian faith still run in my blood.
He was such a strong, positive role model to me, an inspiration, so although I was to experience hunger, abuse, and poverty, I refused to allow these things to hold me back. It was his support and example that gave me the determination to succeed through desperate times, and to want to extend the same kindness he’d shown me, and to others. As the Bible teaches,
‘As you did for one of the least of my brothers, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:40
~ Michael Folkes
Sustenance Initiatives
The Melbourne and Michael Folkes Foundation has four main initiatives in progress at this stage. Sustenance Farming to provide employment, and return profit to the Foundation’s other initiatives; Auditorium to provide a community-wide venue for health and cultural activities; Educational Assistance Program to remove financial barriers to achievement; Medical Care to provide health awareness and provision
Donations
“The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.” – Bob Marley
The Melbourne and Michael Folkes Foundation aims to improve educational opportunities, foster economic development and provide health and wellness programs to the students and wider community of Friendship, Jamaica.
To fund these goals Michael is establishing the Sustenance Farming Initiative, and has also written a book from which 35% of the proceeds will be donated to the Foundation. You can discover more about Michael’s book on his MIC Blog or the Driven by Desperation site.
However, your donations are also very important and are needed:
- to support deserving students with tuition fees, and the provision of educational resources, including technology, to the students and teachers of the Mount Waddy Primary School.
- to build a multi-purpose auditorium for the all-weather provision of Physical Education, a computer lab/room, the celebration of achievements, and the running of Health Fairs.
- to establish a sustenance farm capable (during Phase One) of supplying local colleges and businesses with fresh produce and using the revenue to subsidize the education, health fairs, and auditorium initiatives.
With your donation, the Melbourne and Michael Folkes Foundation will enable these initiatives so that the people of Friendship can identify opportunities that exist around them from a place of health and educational competitiveness.
Your donation to support these endeavors will be greatly appreciated!
It’s easy to donate via PayPal using the button below.