Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation honour the late Denise Jones
November 22, 2021
Looking for a way to contribute to his birth country, Karl Hale initiated a meeting with then Jamaica Consul General in Toronto Anne Marie Bonner.
When he arrived at the consulate for the meeting, there were three other women in the room, including Denise Jones.
“They asked me what I was thinking and my response was I wanted to do something for Jamaica,” Hale recalled. “With her short hair and piercing eyes, Denise was just looking at me in a sort of intimidating manner. When I suggested we do a gala and a lot of different things in terms of health care and education, she still didn’t say a word. When I asked them what they thought, Denise looked at me and asked, ‘When do we get started’? Right away, I knew she was incredible doer and she didn’t disappoint.”
A founding member of Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation (HHJF), Jones succumbed to cancer last December.
With support from nationals and friends of Jamaica, the organization has built 24 new schools across the country, the last being Goodwill Early Childhood Learning Centre in Port Antonio that’s dedicated in Jones’ memory.
Hale said she was among the greatest Jamaican-Canadian innovators in Toronto’s Caribbean community.
“Denise was brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe she could change the world and talented enough to do it,” the former Jamaica Davis Cup tennis player and Rogers Cup tournament director pointed out at HHJF’s 15th annual gala on October 22 at Palais Royale.
“By turning her talents to charity with Helping Hands Jamaica, she brought joy and opportunity to thousands of children across every parish in Jamaica. She was fond of saying that she lived every day like it was her last. Because she did, she transformed our lives, redefined her community and achieved one of the rarest feats. She made the world a better place and changed the future for thousands of children and their families.”
Denise Jones (l) with motivational speaker Karlyn Percil Mercieca at the 2019 Harry Jerome Awards (Photo by Ron Fanfair)
A University of Windsor Bachelor of Communications graduate in 1977, Jones migrated to Canada four years later and was the Peel Multicultural Council Executive Director and a theatre critic and arts reporter with CBC Radio in Sudbury.
She co-founded the boutique-style Jones & Jones Productions in 1987, Rhythm Canada Talent Agency three years later and Jambana music arts festival in 2012 and managed five-time Juno Award winner Exco Levi.
In 1997, the Georgia-based Music Women International included Jones in their Music Women to Watch list and, a year later, she was recognized with the Urban Music Association Pioneer Award.
Denise Jones was presented with the Canadian Urban Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004 (Photo by Ron Fanfair)
“When one speaks of strong Black women, Denise immediately comes to mind,” said HHJF Treasurer Alene Chen. “Having worked on projects with her, I had the opportunity to see her tenacity, commitment and passion first-hand. She exuded courage and confidence and always spoke with boldness and a purpose.”
HHJF board member Mark Josephs met Jones at the second annual gala in 2007.
“Denise had tenacity and knew how to get things done,” said the Kisko Products president. “She is missed, but not forgotten, and loved and remembered for all that she did.”
HHJF presented a replica of a school to Jones’ son, Jesse.
HHJF Board members Karl Hale (l), Alene Chen & Mark Josephs (r) presented a replica of a school to Jones’ son, Jessie Jones (Photo by Ron Fanfair)
“She was our family’s heartbeat,” noted the Bachelor in Paradise Canada host. “It’s tough when you lose that. Born in Canada to immigrant parents made me feel blessed because I grew up feeling like every opportunity was mine as well. That was magical. I saw my mom decide things and then make them happen at all costs. Even when she was sick, she was still the strongest person in the room. One of her last pieces of advice to me was, ’Hang in there’. Her tenacity was something I had never seen from anyone before and I am so honoured to have had her as an example.”
In addition to school builds, HHJF has launched the ‘Path to Education’ fundraising program.
“We will offer seven scholarships to students graduating from one of the schools we built and we have created a youth ambassador outreach initiative where we have 20 Canadian students, who are part of our team, that are working with Jamaican students,” Hale said. “We will do a big youth ambassador trip next summer. We are also sponsoring five student athletes with the aim of getting them scholarships to attend university.”
