FABIAN LEDGISTER, Staff Reporter
Rodney Davis (right), president and chief executive officer of Cable and Wireless Jamaica Ltd., speaks to young hero, Jevaughn Francis (centre), while C&WJ vice-president of corporate communications, Errol Miller, looks on. - FABIAN LEDGISTER
CORPORATE JAMAICA HAS apparently fallen in love with THE STAR's 11-year-old hero, Jevaughn Francis, who ran into a neighbour's burning home to save a four-month-old baby.
After being rewarded by the management and staff of City Of Kingston (C.O.K.) Credit Union, the communications giant, Cable and Wireless Jamaica Ltd. (C&WJ) has announced its own rewards, at a ceremony held at the St. Aloysius Primary School - Jevaughn's school - yesterday.
The ceremony dubbed 'A Hero Lies in You', was attended by Rodney Davis, president and chief executive officer of C&W Ja. Ltd.
"What we want to relate to these kids is simple: When you do good things, good things will follow," Davis said during the function.
Davis himself presented prizes to the young hero, challenging the child to get to the secondary level, at which point they will provide $30,000 per annum towards school expenses, from first to fifth form.
The company made an additional commitment to finance the child's fixed (home) telephone line for a year, along with a trip to a camp of Jevaughn's choosing this summer.
The ceremony comprised performances by the school choir, and students Gordell Irving and Alicia Johnson.
Young Alicia's performance was the outstanding moment of the ceremony, as she performed Mariah Carey's hit single, Hero, for Jevaughn. The child's rendition apparently inspired the crowd to briefly chorus the song along with her, bringing tears to the young hero's eyes.
However, not only was the hero lauded by his peers and C&W but by the staff of his institution as well.
"The St. Aloysius Primary School family congratulates Jevaughn for demonstrating the values of our school, belief in God, respect for life, helpfulness, and the family," outlined the school's principal, Mrs. Pauline Stephenson.
In another philanthropic corporate move, the communications conglomerate will be giving the school free Broadband access for a year, to support Internet access in the school's computer lab.
"I want everyone here to remember this boy, because he will be doing other great things ... Great acts such as this one are an indication of what is to come," asserted Davis.
Some weeks ago, C.O.K. rewarded the child with a voucher valued at $2,500 for a 'Children Are Really Enthusiastic Savers' (C.A.R.E.S.) children account, and other school and household supplies.
Other companies have also aided the boy's family as well as the family of the infant who lost its home, including H.D. Hopwood, and the staff of the Attorney-General's Office.
Jevaughn Francis was flung into the spotlight, after he was featured in the cover story of the January 6 STAR publication, which told of how he ran into a burning house to rescue a neighbour's four-month-old infant.
Do
you have a problem? Is something bothering
you? Write to 