Lyford Cay Foundations Award 16 Community Grants to Impact More than 1,000 Youth

$84,500 Invested in After-School Programming

(NASSAU, BAHAMAS) – Lyford Cay Foundations have awarded sixteen (16) grants to community-based organisations that are creating educational opportunities for more than 1,000 students throughout The Bahamas. In its most recent grant cycle, the Foundations are investing $84,500 in after-school programming that will impact youth on eleven islands.

Through the grants provided by Lyford Cay Foundations, nonprofits and civic groups will offer programming to meet a variety of community needs including academic and tutoring support; career readiness training; STEM education; sports programming and mentoring. 

“In 2024 the Grants Committee and the board of Lyford Cay Foundations decided to launch thematic grants to maximize the impact of the grants funding.  The intent for this Grants cycle was to support afterschool activities, recognizing that the hours between 3 pm and 6 pm are critical for youth development.  We are very pleased to now support so many organisations from across our islands in constructive youth programmes,” said Mrs. Sarah Farrington, Vice-Chairman of Lyford Cay Foundations.

Dr. Nicola Virgill-Rolle, Executive Director of Lyford Cay Foundations reiterated Lyford Cay Foundations’ commitment to providing grants to empower youth programming. “The Foundations are dedicated to the transformative power of life-long learning – especially in communities that need it the most. Ensuring that children in our communities have safe, productive learning opportunities after school is critical.”

Additionally, Ms. Kendra Moss, Director of Programmes for Lyford Cay Foundations, thanked the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture for its assistance in spreading the information about the grants programme across the entire country to their network of youth organizations.

The organisations receiving grants cover a wide spectrum of communities in Abaco, Andros, Cat Island, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama, Inagua, Long Island, New Providence, Rum Cay and San Salvador. The grant recipients and the community programmes they provide are:

• The Anglican Diocese of The Bahamas and The Turks and Caicos Islands (Abaco, Andros, Berry Islands, Cat Island, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama, Inagua, Long Island, New Providence, Rum Cay and San Salvador)—This grant will fund the Power-Up programme to enable at-risk 4th to 6th graders to lead a healthy drug-free lifestyle on 11 islands.
• Bahamas National Sailing School (New Providence)– Funding will expand the reach of the school’s government school sailing programme, thereby opening the opportunity to The Bahamas’ national sport to 20 more students at various public schools.
• Boys Club of The Bahamas Organization (New Providence)– Serving students at Stephen Dillet Primary School and on the Family Islands, this grant will be used to provide uniforms, schools supplies and meals for students who participate in a weekly mentorship programme.
• BREEF (New Providence)– The grant will expand BREEF’s experiential programmes for 10^th through 12 graders in public schools by leveraging the Eco-Schools club framework to foster environmental stewardship and empower students to become advocates for ocean conservation.
• Cat Island Community Band Association (Cat Island) – This grant expands the ability of the organisation to provide immersive musical training by funding instruments and needed resources for the strengthening of a community marching band inclusive of students from the north, central and south communities of Cat Island.
• Future Leaders of Worth/ Feeding Five Thousand Network (New Providence)– This grant will be used to provide literacy and foreign language support to students from underserved communities to close literacy gaps, provide equal learning opportunities and offer bilingualism to students.
• Inagua All Age School (Inagua) – The grant funds will be used to develop a school community farm which will give students hands-on education in sustainable agriculture.
• Let’s Swim Bahamas (New Providence)– This grant will help to expand the programme to additional schools.
• Legacy Church (New Providence) – This grant will bridge gaps in literacy and emotional resilience for 7th to 9th grade students at the LW Young School by providing educational materials and a safe space for students.
• S.T.R.A.W. Inc Center for Young Women (New Providence) – This grant will educate and assist underserved at-risk girls and motivate them to remain focused towards achieving academic excellence while avoiding societal pitfalls.
• Sandilands Primary School/Learning Without Limits (New Providence)– This grant will enhance STEM education for elementary students through technology integration enabling hands-on learning experiences that inspire creativity and critical thinking.
• Sherlin C. Bootle Secondary School Soccer Team (Abaco) – This grant will increase opportunities for students in Abaco to develop team-building skills through soccer. South Andros High School Garden & Environment Club (Andros) – Funding will be used to  create sustainable garden spaces to ensure food security on campus and within the community.
• The Bahamas Association of School Counsellors (New Providence)– This grant will provide essential career counselling services to high school students grades 9 to 12 from underserved communities in New Providence.
• The Bahamas Girl Guides Association (New Providence)– This grant will support the printing and binding of much needed handbooks for Sunflowers and Brownies.
• The Bahamas Literacy Association (New Providence) – This grant will assist in establishing a comprehensive tutoring program and provide literacy toolkits to address literacy challenges faced by students.

Corporal Jerarrd Storr, Executive Director and Band Director of Cat Island Community Band Association shared how the funding will impact after school programming efforts. “Our goal is to make an immense impact on our youth’s future,” he said. “Receiving a grant from Lyford Cay Foundations will help us achieve our goal one young person at a time.”

Although this is the Foundations’ first Grants cycle specifically designed to support afterschool programming, it has funded opportunities for youth development and education since the 1970s. Recently, Lyford Cay Foundations supported Aquinas College in New Providence in its participation of World Scholar’s Cup, a global charitable nonprofit initiative for students ages 10-18. With the Foundations’ support, Aquinas has participated in the competition multiple times including traveling to compete in Barcelona, Spain; Sydney, Australia and at the prestigious Tournament of Champions at Yale University.

“Students were able to learn beyond the classroom. Our students had a chance to see and experience the world,” said Ms. Shona Moss-Knowles, principal of Aquinas College. “For the students, the experience has been life changing. I’ve seen their outlooks abut what is possible change.”

Lyford Cay Foundations’ Grants programme is made possible by the generosity of donors.

For more information about Grants and other Lyford Cay Foundations programmes, visit www.lyfordcayfoundations.org.

About The Lyford Cay Foundations

Lyford Cay Foundations are philanthropic organisations comprised of Lyford Cay Foundation, Inc. and The Canadian Lyford Cay Foundation, registered charities established in 1969 and 1977, respectively. Lyford Cay Foundations believes that increasing educational attainment across the country is key to the development of a prosperous, healthy and peaceful Bahamas.

Lyford Cay Foundations have a mission to invest in learning opportunities for children, young adults, families and communities, all made possible by the generosity of donors. Through a variety of programmes, Lyford Cay Foundations assists children in school as they prepare for college, students leaving school with scholarships to attend college in The Bahamas and abroad, and non-profits providing learning opportunities. To date, more than $50 million has been invested in the lives of Bahamians.