17 BVI groups benefit from Mourant Ozannes Community Investment Programme
26 May 2017
Over 17 community groups and charities in the BVI are to benefit from funding and in-kind help this year thanks to the generosity of law firm, Mourant Ozannes.
The Mourant Ozannes BVI office received 30 requests for funding from its Community Investment Programme. It has generously budgeted cash and in-kind help for more than half of the groups ranging from sports groups, through to educational programmes, mentoring and special needs establishments, with a particular focus on youth.
Commenting on Mourant Ozannes' new method for ensuring equitable allocation of support to local groups, BVI Managing Partner, Rachael McDonald, said:
"There are so many worthy causes it makes it a pretty tough exercise deciding where to allocate funds and other help. The principle that we've worked to this year is that in inviting requests we can try to make what's available in our programme go as far as is possible. Sometimes it's not simply about hard cash, and we are really pleased to have been able to commit other help in the form of time and equipment as part of this exercise. We would not have been aware of many of these needs if we hadn’t reached out in the way we have done so this year."
Charities and community groups receiving investments from the firm in 2017 include Eslyn Henley School, the M.A.L.E. mentor club, E-camps, the Mammogram Fund and West End Community Centre. Mourant Ozannes also sponsors the Mourant Ozannes College Classics one and two mile running series, that runs at HLSCC in the autumn, and has confirmed its continued sponsorship of Tortola Torture for 2018, which is partnering with Help for Children BVI, raising money to support projects in the BVI which work to protect and heal children from child abuse.
For 2017, Mourant Ozannes has made a special Education Grant to The Rotary Club of Road Town that will benefit a wide range of worthy causes though the Club's 'Engage for Change' campaign – promoting the importance of education and a healthy lifestyle in the BVI. Mourant Ozannes also provides a bursary (US$20,000) and practical support to a qualifying BVI student who is about to start their first year, or is currently studying law at University. The current recipient is Chelsi-Marie Fax-Solomon.
Commenting on a donation received from the firm, Ms. Laurel Freeman, Social Worker in the Family, Children & Protective Services Social Development Department, said:
"We are very grateful to the Mourant Ozannes team for the generous donation of toys and books to the Unit's play/therapy/forensic room. The donation will go a long way in helping the families we serve to feel a sense of cohesion, comfort and quality family time during visits and interviews."
Mrs McDonald added:
"We strive to play, and encourage our people to play, an important role in supporting the community in which we live and work and our Community Investment Programme illustrates this aim. Hopefully, we will be able to build on the success of this year's inaugural Community Investment Day initiative and continue to see groups approach us during February 2018 for funding in the same way."
Further details about the groups supported in the 2017 funding round can be found here.
About Mourant
Mourant is a law firm-led, professional services business with over 60 years' experience in the financial services sector. We advise on the laws of the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Jersey and Luxembourg and provide specialist entity management, governance, regulatory and consulting services.
