GraceKennedy launches household worker award
Published:Thursday | April 17, 2014 | 12:00 AM
Keisha Hill, Gleaner Writer
To recognise and reward some of Jamaica's finest workers who have impacted the lives of thousands of Jamaican families, the GraceKennedy Group has launched its inaugural GraceKennedy/Heather Little-White Household Worker Award.
The award is all-encompassing in nature, seeking to recognise and award the individual not only on the basis of technical ability but also for his or her character and what he or she stands for. The criteria also includes having an alignment with the values of GraceKennedy: honesty, integrity, trust, caring attitude, safety awareness; budgeting skills, environmental awareness, time management, family-oriented and community involvement.
According to Don Wehby, group chief executive officer, the company saw it appropriate to add Dr Little-White's name to the award because of the contribution she made to GraceKennedy and the dedicated work she did in the training of household workers.
"We launch this award not only in the spirit of our great company, but also in the name of a great woman who was a special member of our family," Wehby said.
The top household worker will receive the GraceKennedy/Household Worker Award 2014, as well as a cash award of $250,000. The first and second runners-up will receive trophies and grants of $150,000 and $100,000, respectively. GraceKennedy also commits to funding a year of secondary-school education through a grant for a student chosen by the winner of the award.
GraceKennedy is asking the public to nominate their household workers and, in no more than 200 words, say why they should be the winner of this award. All entries are to be submitted by May 9, with the winner to be announced at an award ceremony to be held on May 26.
Nominations will be viewed by a panel of judges comprising representatives from GraceKennedy, PROComm and the Jamaica Household Workers' Union. The top 10 nominees will be selected and interviewed, with the top three chosen.
Shirley Pryce, president of the Jamaica Household Workers' Union, thanked GraceKennedy for recognising the hard work of household workers.
Nominations are to be sent to gracekennedy@gkco.com; posted on facebook.com/gracekennedylimited or sent by tweet (with link attached) @gracekennedygrp. They can also be dropped off at the company's head office, 73 Harbour Street, Kingston.