R3 makes second round of grants
(CNS): In its second set of grants, the R3 Cayman Foundation has given CI$190,000 to eight charities, just over half of its last handout. The foundation, which was established with CI$1 million seed cash from Ken Dart to help Cayman navigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, has handed out money to non-profit initiatives and projects focused on recovery in the wake of the pandemic, such as food relief, education and reskilling, mental health and the environment.
“Recovery focuses on short- to medium-term efforts to rebuild communities, stimulate the economy and protect the environment following a disaster,” said R3 board chairman, Bryan Hunter.
Among the non-profits given cash this time around, CI$41,000 was awarded to Literacy Is For Everyone (LIFE) in support of its Education for Everyone programme. The charity is becoming a firm favourite with R3, having received CI$150,000 in the first round, which was the largest donation.
The foundation works in close collaboration with the Ministry of Education, providing children in need with laptops and internet access to enable distance learning. The success of the programme inspired the ministry to launch a “One-to-One” laptop programme to provide laptops to all government school students for use at home and at school.
“This donation will complete the funding of the Education for Everyone programme,” said R3 Relief Chairman Woody Foster, who is closely involved with LIFE.
The biggest single recipient this time around however was the UCCI, which received CI$81,260 to support the reskilling of unemployed Caymanians displaced by COVID-19 and the diversification of the Cayman Islands workforce.
The money will be used to help students, including those enrolled in technical and vocational education and training, complete their courses, and it has helped to support a compressed vocational training summer programme offered by UCCI to more than 110 students.
Also in the area of education, just over CI$25,031 was given to the Central Caribbean Marine Institute to enable twelve Caymanian students to participate in its Ocean Science Scholarship programme. In addition, CI$25,000 was donated to Cayman’s Acts of Random Kindness (ARK) and Meals On Wheels to help them meet the continued demand for food relief.
Recognising the impact of the pandemic on mental health in young people, R3 also granted CI$25,000 to the Alex Panton Foundation in support of its Emotional Literacy Programme which helps children develop the skills to communicate effectively and cope with anxieties.
A CI$10,000 grant was made to the Cayman Islands Red Cross in support of its back to school initiatives to facilitate a safe transition back to the classroom. The programme will help to instill health and hygiene best practices through an educational video to help prepare students and supporting materials for use in the classroom and at home.
In an effort to contribute to local employment while protecting the natural environment, R3 also approved a donation of CI$8,000 to the National Trust for the Cayman Islands to hire local carpenters to build bat boxes. As well as creating work, it will protect an important local species during their breeding season.
It is not clear what the current balance of the fund is. The first CI$1 million was matched by the private sector but there has been no response from the charity regarding questions about further donations. To date in two rounds of donations CI$536,000 has been given away.
Hunter encouraged other local non-profit organisations, or organisations exempted from non-profit status under current legislation, to apply online for funding from R3 using a short application available on the R3 website.
“Currently, R3’s funding efforts are focused on addressing the unprecedented human and economic hardship resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, and preparedness efforts for the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season,” Hunter said.
NPOs can find out how to apply for funding and download the application form on the R3 website.
To donate to R3, please email info@r3foundation.ky.
Category: Community, Local News
Jeez, what a bunch of haters.
6mos later and this stacked hot-shot board has dispersed little more than 10% of the Dart-promotional “Covid relief”.
Do you expect him to retrain unemployed and unemployable caymanians for free? He is the only person who really cares about his fellow Caymanians. I don’t see many people working with troubled youth either.
Half of civil service employees are getting paid for doing nothing, yet you’re picking on the hard working person? Why?
He is a hero.
This is in response to 5:08 comment
I am sorry to spoil the news but, I have seen a certain entity use the funds and “give” (pay) “volunteers” (employees) who just as quickly headed to the money transfer business and sent it home, just like alot of them do with the NAU money given to them.
The money donated is not staying in the Islands. It’s not being used for the intended purposes.
Just do a proper Audit of the entities and persons who recieved the funds….
Otherwise it’s just another situation of “who you know”..
And by the way I have three kids in school. I got one old beat up Gov’t laptop. The laptop is about 4 years old and all beat up. Some keys dont work even. So persons are getting laptops yeah….. old ass ones. Begs to question why so much money and where it went…..
And the ONLY people who would deny this stuff is happening are the ones who benefited from receiving free money and dont want it questioned….
What for the deniers…..
2.05pm You are definitely a born Caymanian, repeating this nonsense about expats receiving funds from the NAU and sending it straight back home. All they got was a one time food voucher for $15 and they couldn’t wire that back home.
Please give us some documented evidence of your claims.
5.07pm typo should read $150 not $15.
A criminal will always say “provide documentary evidence”.
Well, easy enough to do. Allow KPMG to complete a thorough AUDIT of all transactions, persons and entities.
Simple. If someone says no then it proves the point…
Oh, and by the way. I might be a “born Caymanian” but at least I in my OWN Country.
You sound like one of the Criminal Expats, that had to leave your country because your deemed a convicted criminal there and somehow schemed your way here to start a new set of scams.
Well, it seems Mr. Dart had to leave the U.S. because he didn’t pay his taxes, then got into trouble in Venezuela for some hanky panky with the government there. He later came to the Cayman Islands where government got along ju$t fine with him! When you have enough money, you can buy whatever you want.
Placement
Layering
Integration
Grants should be used to re-educate people.
Michael Myles, the founder of Inspire Cayman Training centre is a true national hero! Along with Derek Haines.
Their unparalleled dedication and contribution to improve well-being of Cayman community is unmatched.
Derek yes. Michael is getting a very nice salary and the courses are expensive.
Derek for what ? Not every “caymanian” is a member of the rugby club u know.
Have you been living under the rock or have selective memory? Or simply ungrateful?
Cayman hospice? Does it ring any bells?