A nonprofit international partnership dedicated to empowering Jamaican children and communities in need. PURPOSE Great Shape! is a nonporfit, charitable NGO, focusing on: "at risk" youth; sustainable community development; health care; education; environmental education; and microenterprise development. Great Shape! also provides relief to Jamaicans during times of disaster or crisis. HISTORY Great Shape! was founded by Myrtle An Franklin in the state of Oregon, USA, in 1988 following the devastation of hurricane Gilbert. Myrtle and Georgene Crowe organized a grass roots relief effort which resulted in 2,500 pounds of donated items being gathered and shipped to the community of Peggy Barry in January of 1989. PROJECTS COMPLETED 1) PEGGY BARRY PRESCHOOL 1996 witnessed the completion of the building of the Myrtle Ann Franklin Infant Deaprtment at Peggy Barry Primary School in the parish of Westmoreland. The aim of the rpoject is to empower the children of a rural sugar cane community, by improving the educational environment at the earliest ages. Today the little ones are busy learning in their new classrooms. 2) BROMPTON POTTERY PROJECT Board members Gretchen Wilson and Georgene Crowe, successfully completed repairs to a road serving a community of potters. The repairs made possible the transport of raw materials into and finished product out of the community. Great Shape! also assisted the potters with local marketing by establishing connections with hotel purchasing departments. Plans remain for a regional arts and crafts center, that could potentially facilitate microenterprise development, especially for unemploed mothers. 3) OTHER PROJECTS 1991- a community center receives a new roof. A Texas MD spends months in the remote hills of the Cockpit country at a health clinic. 1992- An Oregon nurse travels the schools of Kingston examining for Glaucoma and Diabetes in children. 1994- A whole school receives toothbrushes from an Oregon dentist. Boxes of books add to a local school libray. First aid supplies get distributed throughout rural communities. Bags of clothing have been given to needy families. 1997 AND BEYOND... Great Works! are on the horizon for Great Shape! Currently the organization is researching a 500 acre cooperative, sustainable, community farm in rural Westmoreland, with the aim to improve economic and social opprotunities for regional residents, through empowering self-help and cooperation. Also planned is the Western Jamaica Youth Basketball Program, a high school league that encourages improved attendance and academic achievement. Also being researched: a regional library using donation of 25,000 books from Powell's Bookstore of Portland with the help of Kanth Gopalpur; a dialysis usnit at Cornwall Regional Hospital; a children's environmental outdoor school; working vacations for medical and other professionals; and a "healthy mothers-healthy babies" midwives program. WANT TO HELP? Great Shape! welcomes those wanting to get involved in the works. Do you have a special skill or training to offer? Medical and educational professionals are especially encouraged to offer their knowledge and skills in a program designed to have you directly working with the most needy, on a sort of working vacation. Volunteers are encouraged to contact us for helping with fund-raising events. Join the family of those caring for Jamaican children and communities in need. A one time donation into the Myrtle Ann Franklin Endowment Fund of $100 puts any name you choose on the family tree. To ensure longevity and stability of Great Shape!, an endowment fund has been established by Miss Myrkle herself, while hoping others would follow. Founding Sponsors are sought for bequeathals. We are always looking for donations: -Air miles for international travel (transferable) -Medical, educational, sports, arts & crafts, supplies -Books, quality used clothing, or shoes. All donations in cash or kind are tax deducatible thought our IRS 501 (C) 3 tax ID # 94 308 6515 Great Shape! Inc. Executive Director Joseph Wright Board Of Directors President Sean Bourke Director: Port Antonio Marine Preservation Project Vice-President Dr. Terry Gaston Professor of Business Southern Oregon University Others Gretchen Facey-Wilson Treasurer Judith Foltz Secretary James Welty Attorney Sherry Johnson Georgene Crowe Robert Foltz Volunteers Derek Bentoff, Kait Fairchild, Collin Malcolm, Max "Romeo" Facey, "Deli" Dan Lafond, and many, many others Advisory Committe Peggy Horan Foundations Anne George Grant Writing Ray Jones Videographer Phil Blavier Computers Kim Blackwol Event Production Great Shape! Inc. PO Box 3166 Ashland OR 97520 USA 541-482-4262