Courtney Foster

Countney Foster is a young Jamaican philanthropist whose fundraising activities started at age 4.  Since then she has achieved in her short lifetime what many never achieve in three times as many years. Through her exceptional organizational skills, her indefatigable spirit of generosity and her love for humanity, Courtney has touched the lives of many, helping to alleviate suffering.

At age 4, having heard of the plight of a young child with cancer of the eyes who could not afford treatment, Courtney went to her neighbours and family friends soliciting funds to help. Eventually, she was able to send a cheque to the parents of the sick child.

At age seven, Courtney was moved once again to help. A budding model, she was asked to participate in a fashion show at the Curlin Johnson Basic School located in one of Kingston’s depressed communities. To her dismay, there was no electricity at the school and the show took place by the light of the street lamps. When she compared that with the relatively privileged situation of her own school, Vaz Preparatory, she saw the need at the basic school. She then set about raising funds to have the basic school wired for electricity. Having raised over Thirty Thousand dollars for that venture, she was once again approached by the Curlin Johnson Basic School to help them to pay their water bill. For this she raised over Fifty Thousand dollars.

In 1996, aged twelve, Courtney learned of the disconnection of water for unpaid bills at the Walker’s Place of Safety, a children’s home. She organized a fund-raising event and was able to donate over One Hundred Thousand dollars towards payment of the bill.

At the funeral of her uncle Dr Norman Sinclair in 1996, Courtney vowed to ensure that his name would be always remembered. In his honour, she has established the Dr Norman Sinclair Scholarship for Needy Medical Students, tenable at the University of the West Indies. Each year a medical student in financial difficulties is chosen to receive a scholarship valued at One Hundred and Fifty Thousand dollars, funds raised from an annual fashion show put on by Courtney’s organisation, Kids for Charity.

In addition, Courtney has chosen a needy student of Ardenne High School to whom she is donated JA$20,000 annually throughout her high school career.

In recognition of her continued generosity to her fellow Jamaicans, having raised to date in excess of $1.5 million dollars for charitable causes, Courtney Foster has received several accolades.

In 1998, Courtney was recognized as one of the PALS Young Achievers.

In 2000, she received the UWI Scholarship Fund Award for setting up a scholarship.

In 2001, she was among those who received the National Child Month Committee Award, which is given to young people who work to improve their communities. In December 2001 Courtney received the Gleaner Honour Award for Voluntary Service – the youngest recipient ever of this award.

In 2002, Courtney was featured in Queen Elizabeth’s Golden Jubilee Souvenir Programme in the section Spirit of the Future, along with ten young people throughout the Commonwealth who have been an inspiration of their country. (June 2003)