The Coco Point Fund was established in 1978 by several guests of the Coco Point Lodge to honour the staff at Coco Point Lodge. The purpose of the Fund was "to aid the educational, medical, health, religious, and general welfare needs of the inhabitants and institutions of the islands of Barbuda and Antigua."
Since its inception, The Coco Point Fund accomplishes this goal by providing the necessary tools and materials. The Barbudan people provide the labour and the spirit that puts these tools and materials to work. Most of the efforts over the years have been directed toward improving the island's education and health care resources.
Over US$500,000 has been donated to facilities in Barbuda including dental equipment, eyeglasses, and playgrounds, and to the Holy Trinity School. The Fund was the driving force for the establishment of the Pre-School and has ever since been a generous contributor to its support, paying the salary of one teacher and for the purchase of many of its supplies, teaching aids, and toys.
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Teachers and students of the William Cody Kelly Pre-School |
The Coco Point Fund is particularly proud of its response to the deadly Hurricane Luis which devastated Barbuda in 1995. Two hundred and twenty-five people contributed in excess of US$115,000 in an emergency appeal to help in the recovery from the heavy damage. The bulk of the effort was directed towards the school, the hospital, and the doctor's house.
In 1997 the William C Kelly Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in the memory of Bill Kelly, the founder of Coco Point Lodge. The Fund is administered under the auspices of, and with the financial support of, the Coco Point Fund.
The Coco Point Fund qualifies as an exempt organisation under section 501 (C) (3) of the Inland Revenue Code of 1954. Contributions may be made to
The William Cody Kelly Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in 1998 by The Coco Point Fund in memory of William Cody Kelly, the founder of Coco Point Lodge in Barbuda, West Indies. The Scholarship Fund was set up in order to provide educational opportunities for young residents of Barbuda wishing to pursue education beyond the level of education offered on Antigua and Barbuda and who intended to return to Barbuda following completion of their studies to give something back to their community.
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Tate Nedd, Charlene Harris, Renée Desouza, and Chad Alexander with Chairman, Bill Pierce, and Mrs Susie Brinckerhoff, Christmas 2006 |
The Fund will consider those candidates for assistance who have evidenced a serious interest in furthering their education and with a need for financial assistance. Individuals are expected to have a strong academic record with demonstrated qualities of leadership, perseverance, and initiative. Our funds are intended to supplement those scholarships awarded by the Barbuda Council.
Results to date have been impressive. Candida Browne graduated near the top of her class in June 2003 from Mercy College; Chad Alexander graduated in May 2004 from Savannah College of Arts and Design with a degree in architecture; Constantia Browne in December 2006 from the University of the Southern Caribbean in Trinidad; and Charlene Harris in June 2006 with a Master's Degree from Philadelphia Biblical University. Karima Burton, who is in her third year at Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Renée Desouza is in her third year at New York City College of Technoloy. Tate Nedd is attending culinary school in Canada and Constantia Brown is embarking upon a Master's programme in Forensic Psychology at John Jay College.
Fund raising is conducted under the auspices of The Coco Point Fund, a New York not-for-profit organisation and is supported on an ongoing basis by guests of Coco Point Lodge.