Organization Raised Over $55,000 in Donations for Education in Jamaica
The October 15th Gala and fundraiser for The Lynne Mitchell Foundation, A Night In the Caribbean, was an overwhelming success. Overall, the non-profit group raised $55,000 for scholarships and educational resources for school children in Jamaica.
“We are so, so grateful for turnout and support our patrons and guests have shown us this year,” said foundation President, Marlene Gordon. “The efforts of the foundation are always a labor of love, but when you see this kind of generosity, it shows that we all care about the education and futures of the world’s children.”
Leading the fundraising efforts this year were auctions for one of two gourmet 5-course dinners for 12 people, courtesy of MIC Food. Originally, the prize was planned to be a single dinner for 10, but tremendous response convinced MIC Food to offer an additional prize in order to maximize donations to the foundation.
“When you see people get excited about such a worthy cause, it’s impossible not to get caught up in it yourself,” said Arthur Artiles, Executive Chef at MIC Food. The major tropical foods company is one of the world’s largest and most respected. “It was an honor to be able to contribute to the Lynne Mitchell Foundation in this way.”
This year’s gala also featured a guest appearance from Jamaica’s Minister of Education, Senator, the Honorable Ruel B. Reid, CD., JP., who spoke about how the Lynne Mitchell Foundation has positively impacted so many school kids. As well, the foundation presented two $3000 scholarships to two students so that they may continue their high school educations with fewer worries about the cost of books, uniforms, transportation, meals and other supplies.
Founded in 1987, MIC Food is the largest US importer of frozen plantain products, including sweet plantain slices, tostones, plantain cups and other plantain derived products. Its line of tropical products includes other favorites such as as yuca fries and yuca cheese bites as well as a variety of other tropical vegetables.
The company offers ready-to-heat frozen products for restaurants and food service clients throughout the US and in Europe. Headquartered in Miami, FL, MIC Food is an integrated farm-to-distributor concept, with FSSC-certified processing facilities in Central and South America. For more information about the brand, visit www.micfood.com.
The Lynne Mitchell Foundation was created in 2012 by president Marlene Gordon to honor the memory of her mother, Lynne Mitchell and to continue her legacy of “growing love… one act at a time.” The foundation focuses on underprivileged children in the rural community on the island of Jamaica where Mitchell was born and raised. The specific focus of the foundation is on Seaview Primary school with the aim of showing these children what love is and changing their lives in a positive and meaningful way. The foundation serves to raise funds for programs including scholarships, transportation, school lunch and breakfast programs and building renovations to benefit the students of Seaview Primary School. For more information about the Lynne Mitchell Foundation and how you can become a Love Activist for the organization, visit www.LynneMitchellFoundation.org.
