Greaves host all-white charity party

Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer

Luvs, many Jamaicans have or can now access better medical care and treatment at a number of our hospitals due to the instrumentality and dedication of entrepreneur John and Jenny Greaves.

About three decades ago, Greaves and his wife, being cognisant of the parlous state of the health sector, particularly many of our hospitals, decided to intervene to make them more capable in administering health care. To this end, the enterprising couple hosted what turned out to be the inaugural 'Adopt A Ward' fund-raising do, from which proceeds would go towards purchasing much-needed hospital equipment.

Today, there is some $40 million (and counting) in donated equipment and services to a number of hospitals. The John and Jenny Greaves Adopt-A-Ward, annual charity party is not only a social staple, it has ignited a sense of service in many, as the annual do is supported by a battery of volunteers, who give of their time and selves freely for the common good. In this respect, the Greaves have not only pioneered the spirit of volunteerism, they have spearheaded the concept of partying for a cause. The party is a social calendar staple, now attracting the support of Jamaicans and others the world over.

New location

Hosted traditionally at an exotic beachfront location, last Sunday the party, under the baton of events planner Suzie Berry, saw a change as it was hosted at the historic Grog Shoppe, at one of Kingston's leading landmarks, the Devon House complex. Commencing at midday, through to 6 p.m., with the dress code being all-white, the event proved easily the mother of all all-white parties. With tickets being a modest J$6,000, and those attending knowing that their contribution was to an eminently worthy cause, there was no stinting.

Dears, apart from its noble cause, the charity do is also celebrated for its culinary fare, as Greaves' culinary skills are legendary, and his jerked corned-pork dish was simply to die for. And if you missed this treat, there was the Greaves brandy daiquiri that was another treat of the esoteric order that made for fine partying and leisurely repast. It was that kind of a day with musical entertainment that included mento, Roja Mendez in concert with the Rockers Band followed by the celebrated Pluto Shervington!

The women were elegantly dressed, their bejewelled hands, fingers, earlobes and necks gleaming in the afternoon sunlight, as their male counterparts, no less decked out and equally at ease, all made for a most charming garden party. There was no ceremony here, merely a brief interlude in which Dr Chris Rose thanked the Greaves for their contribution over the years; and with the required protocol observed, it was back to the partying on hand! On the social Richter scale, it was a 10!

Among those out were Michael Peart; John and Urla Junor; Sir Alister and Lady McIntyre; Lady Patricia Golding; Barbara Matalon; Maurice and Valerie Facey; former Chief Justice Edward Zacca and wife Hope and daughter Karen Zacca; Zia Mian and the fabulous Mitsy Seaga. Dawn Azan; Robert MacMillan; socialite Beverly Junor Levy, looking as stunning as ever; Desmond Panton and his companion the fabulously lovely Sandra Lyn-Chue; Anthony and Jeanne Watson and their son James; Erica Hamilton with sons Edward Downer and Bobby Stewart, who all opted for summery colours; Peter Fletcher; Lorna Myers; Tony Rerrie; Janette Stewart; John and Betty-Jo Desnoes; Gloria Moodie; Peter Junor; Martin Veira; the elegant Hope Campbell; Tino Calderelli and the lovely Gloria Palomino. The regal Sheila Lyons; John and Sue Rosen; Margaret Carvallo; Barbie Rigby; the très elegant Kathy Subratie; Lois Lake Sherwood; Roy DeCambre; Jennifer Gore and her daughter the lovely Rachael Gore Saulter and her daughter Dana Saulter; Patrick and Marguerite Lynch; Jimmy Moss-Solomon and his stunning wife Raquel Jenkins; Cleto Parkinson; and the lovely Charmaine Chin-Loy.

Also out were Capt David McRae; Patsy Williams; Derrick and Vinette Helwig; Robert and Angie Fowler; Stephen and Wendy Facey; Anthony and Jeanne Bell; Hugh and Margaret Croskery and son Mark Croskery. Andrew and Debbie Issa; Peter and Suzanne Couch; Frank and Ann Ventura; Patrick and Barbara Robins; Karl and Mary-Ann Lazarus; Eddie and Victoria DePass; Matthew and Vinette Ziadie; Alty and Donna Whittaker; the lovely Terry Shoucair; Howard Mitchell; Paige Todd; the quite charming Stella Rosen; the amiable Newton Forrest; the fab Viv Lue-Tenn; Dexter Chin and Roberta Matthies; James Hathaway from the United States Embassy; Dr Nigel Clarke; Christopher Nakash and wife Zein Issa-Nakash and their children; the fabulous Kimberly Mais-Issa; Sean and Simone duQuesnay; Bridget Ziadie; Andrew and Natalie Desnoes; Roger Malek and the lovely Amber Vicens; the gorgeously pregnant Imani Duncan; Gordon and Nicki Clarke; Roger and Simone Chang; John Lannigan; Nancy Gobin and her children; Kibebi Johnson; Tracy Josephs; the lovely Christine Thompson-Woods; Gerard Fontaine; the fab Raihn Sibblies; the lovely Laura Marley; and Summer Machado, plus several others!