Wolmer's Alumni Association

The Wolmer’s Alumni Association, NY Chapter, is a Jamaican association dedicated to financially assisting the Wolmer’s School in Kingston, Jamaica.   The organization began in 1972 as a result of the efforts of Mrs. Eva Bradshaw who, as former secretary at the Boys’ School, rallied the former students in New York to purchase a water fountain for the School.  From this initial activity, the Wolmer’s Alumni Association of the USA, Inc. (comprising former students from the Boy’s and Girls’ Schools) became a reality.  We are indebted to the Consul-General Hon. Gerald Groves (a Womerian) who offered the offices of the Consulate for the initial meetings.

            As a not-for-profit organization, the Association raises funds for its alma mater through various events such as luncheons, dances and bus and boat rides.  Our primary goal of assisting the schools has been rigorously adhered to and over the years and we have provided or made contributions in the form of school buses, computers, books for library, scholarship assistance, lab equipment, refitting the science labs and the new auditorium,   and other educational supplies to both schools.

          The Association has welcomed students travelling to the US such as the Quiz Team winners, participants in the UN Junior Convention and of course Wolmer’s teams from both schools participating in the Annual Penn Relays.  We have received them as guests in our homes, provided entertainment, excursions for shopping and sight seeing, and paid for the teams’ hotel accommodations in Philadelphia. 

          Through the establishment, in her will, the Lucille Neysmith Educational Fund in the amount of $40,000, we have provided assistance to the students in over the past fifty years, to meet their needs of tuition, uniforms, books and meals

          We have also met the mandate to make contributions to local charities and are particularly proud that we have provided scholarship assistance to needy students through the Negro College Fund, the Dance Theater of Harlem at its inception and similarly to the Harlem Boys’ Choir in the form of two studio pianos.  And most recently gave contributions to pediatric AIDS facilities

          With the establishment of other Wolmer’s Chapters in the US, it was decided to re-organize the Association as the Wolmer’s Alumni Association, NY Chapter, Inc. It was approved as a 501 (C) not-for-profit by the IRS in 2010.

          The Association is a member of the Union of Jamaican Alumni Association (USA), Inc. (UJAA) and has served in various capacities as members and officers of the Board of Directors.

Notable Wolmerians include:

• The late Hon. Gerald Groves, Consul-General for Jamaica

• The late Hon. Kay Baxter Collins, Consul-General for Jamaica

• His Excellency Courtenay Rattray, Permanent Representative to the Jamaican Mission to the UN.

• Lucille Dawes Neysmith

     We are proud of our achievements and those members who have contributed so much of their time and resources to these achievements.  We are also honored as alumni of not only the oldest school in Jamaica, but also one of the most outstanding in producing men and women who have contributed so much to their country and to the world in the fields of academia, medicine, politics, the arts and sports.  As alumni of this prestigious school, we will continue to do our part in ensuring that the current and future students receive the very best educational opportunities through our contributions to the resources of our schools.

     The Association is governed by Board of Directors that is elected annually.  We meet on the last Friday of every month, excluding December, July and August.

 

President:                                            Vernon Steele

Vice President:                                    Myra Dixon

Secretary:                                            Alroy Richards

Assistant Secretary:                            Yasmin Patterson

Treasurer:                                            Michael Gabbidon

Assistant Treasurer                              Daniel Lindsay

 

Contact Information:

Mailing Address: 

P.O. Box 110814, Cambria Heights Station,

Jamaica, New York 11411-9997

 

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