BY PAUL JUNOR
Since its establishment in January 2012, the Jerome Henry Foundation (JHF) has been making a significant difference in the lives of financially needy young people to support their post-secondary dream. According to the website: www.thejeromehenryfoundation.com, “It is a non-profit organization created in honour of a man many individuals grew to love and respect. His compassionate spirit was embraced by all.”
The mission of JHF is, “To provide educational grants to children, youth, and/or schools in need, thereby, contributing to ongoing enrichment in the lives of children and youth and their achievement in education.” JHF was started in honour of Jerome Llewlyn Henry (Campbell) affectionately known as “Rick or Dwer” who died unexpectedly in April 2011 after losing his battle to cancer.
The overall objectives of JHF are to:
- Establish and maintain the Jerome Henry scholarship which will be awarded to students in need on a yearly basis
- Support community groups/programs and registered charities whose goals and visions align with those of the Jerome Henry Foundation.
According to its Facebook page, the JHF has been involved in diverse initiatives, programs, and events that seek to foster community volunteerism, financial literacy, leadership, and scholarship preparation workshops.
The core values of JHF are:
- Integrity: Integrity is the foundation of our organization. JHF will conduct the activities of the foundation in a fair and transparent manner
- Leadership: Our leaders will share the visions of the foundation and support others in working together towards our mission. JHF will model responsible leadership by being actively involved in community initiatives, leading by example, accepting new challenges, and by embracing innovation
- Unity: JHF will lead with a constancy of purpose; working as a collective to fulfil the mission of the foundation. We will promote teamwork, responsible leadership and accountability, embracing the belief that one vision equals one voice
- Excellence: JHF will adhere to high standards as a foundation and will encourage youth to strive for the highest potential in school and community standards
- Community: JHF will inspire a sense of community in youth and seek opportunities to partner with like-minded community-based organizations
The Scholarship Selection Committee is composed of five individuals as well as five professionals with educational backgrounds, one youth outreach worker, and one accountant. There will be two scholarships worth $1,500 each awarded to university applicants and two scholarships to college applicants. Interested applicants need to complete an application form and submit their academic transcripts, proof of residence/ identification, resume, two letters of recommendation, a personal statement (maximum 750 words), and a financial statement. The successful applicants will need to submit proof of acceptance before the scholarship is awarded. The deadline is May 31st, 2022.