Aall Foundation donates to Manna Centre
Sophia Harris, Aall Foundation director, presents a cheque to John Wesley for the Manna Centre
(CNS Local Life): The Aall Foundation has contributed US$15,000 to support the humanitarian work of the Manna Centre, a community medical, social welfare and legal advisory agency expected to open later this year in the Savannah area. The centre will also administer a depot for storage and distribution of dry goods, clothing and medication.
“I have seen the Aall Foundation change and save lives on a global basis,” said Sophia Harris, managing partner of Solomon Harris law firm and a 10-year director of the foundation. She said that the contribution is being made with the hope that the Manna Centre would “thrive and flourish”.
The centre will serve needs within its scope to anyone in the Cayman Islands requiring them. Though initiated by the Adventist Conference, it will be independently incorporated and administered as a non-denominational agency serving all residents regardless of religious affiliations.
The donation on behalf of the Aall Foundation was presented to Conference treasurer John Wesley on 22 April.
Presenting the gift, Harris said that she overcame her initial scepticism about realising a project of this scale as she is aware that the Adventist Church leaders are “themselves led by faith and not by sight”. When she met with the foundation’s board of directors and explained the centre’s aims and objectives, the board moved “without hesitation” to contribute, Harris said.
In thanking the foundation, Conference executive secretary Reinaldo Dracket described the cheque presentation as a “proud moment of recognition of the important work of the Manna Centre”. He said it was the second major donation to the project by a Cayman Islands philanthropic organisation.
“We are delighted this afternoon that we are again witnessing the generosity of Cayman’s business and charitable organisations to the humanitarian work of the Manna Centre,” he added.
Giving a status report to the Conference-wide gathering of churches, Dracket noted the encouraging agreements that had been reached with cadre of doctors, nurses, pharmacist, other registered health practitioners, and legal and social welfare professionals, who have volunteered their services to the operations of the centre.
He invited church members to become active participants in the effort, either through volunteering or contributing financially.
The Aall Foundation, which supports charities on a global scale, was established in the Cayman Islands in 1982.
