The Friends of Maxfield Park
Father's Day Luncheon

by Lord Maxfield, a wealthy land-owner. The home provides a haven for abandoned, abused, disabled and HIV/AIDS children. It is basically a place of refuge for children whose parents are unable to meet their needs.











At present, the home accommodates over 200 children whose ages range from 0 to 18 years. The children are cared for by the home until they attain the age of 18 or are placed in a foster home or adopted. At its inception, the home operated under the supervision of the Kingston & St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC). However in 1985 the Central Government assumed full responsibility for operating the home and it was placed within the Child Services Division of the Ministry of Youth.

At present, the government provides a weekly sum towards supplies (Food, Medicine, Toiletries) of this amount is disbursed in cash to make purchases on the open market and the rest is dispensed in the form of vouchers which are used at designated wholesales.

In addition, the government provides staff salaries and coupons for cooking gas and motor vehicles fuel. To supplement the Government’s contribution, a number of private voluntary organizations, both local and overseas, make regular donations.

The home is monitored by a board of Governors chaired by Mrs. Ruby Martin. The main function of the Board is to provide advice and guidance to the Minister on Issues relating to the home.

1. Trained Teachers in special education Pre-Trained Teachers Senior House Mother
2. GLS/III House Mother

The Home is comprised of four town house units, each housing 16 children. Two units are designated for boys and two for girls. Additionally, there are 2 dormatories, one providing accommodation for infants and toddlers (Jellifer House) up to 5 years old, and the other housing children (Bach House) between the age of 5-18 years.

The home operates a basic school which serves approximately 60 children between the ages of 3-5 years old, as well as 30 children participating in a Special Education Program run by a teacher trained in this area.

The older children either attend the Rousseau Primary School or the Norman Manley Comprehensive High School, which are both within close proximity to the home.

Among the honorees at the event were:

I Patrick A. Jolly was born in Jamaica, and educated at Mannings High School. After graduating, Mr. Jolly became worked for the Bank of Nova Scotia, Jamaica, Ltd. Where he held the ranks of banker, account and branch manager before coming to New York to attend college. Mr. Jolly had obtained a Masters in Business Administration from Pace University in 1975. Hence, he qualified for the position of Accountant with Tower Isles Patties, his present employer. Mr Jolly currently holds the position of General Manager. Mr. Jolly is currently the General Manager of Tower Isles Patties, a position which he quickly advanced to. Mr. Jolly is hence able to involve his company in many worthy causes, helping the youths, the elderly, and the people as a whole. He is an active member of the Mannings and Clarendon College Alumni Association, is married to Grace Jolly, and lives in Westbury with his wife and two sons.

Terrence T. Lapierre was the last of seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Valentine Lapierre in Trinidad. He and his siblings, migrated to Brooklyn, NY, where he received his C.P.C.U. in Insurance upon graduating from the College of Insurance and his degree in Accounting from Brooklyn College. He now operates his own business, Patriot Agency, Inc. Mr. Lapierre has been involved in community service for many years, now. He received a Community Service Award in 1977 (Wesley Donald Holder Democratic Club). He is a member of the Brooklyn District Attorney Community Advisory and Research Committee and also a member of Community Board 17. His first priority, however, is being a dad to his eight lovely daughters, one of which wrote an acknowledgement for the event.

George B. Lewis, Esq, was born in Jamaica, and attended high school at Cornwall College. He migrated to East New York, Brooklyn, where he continues to serve the community. Mr. Lewis received a BA in Political Science from Fordham University in 1973, and a JD (law) degree from Touro College in 1987. He is a member of Who’s Who of America’s Law Student’s, and received the American Jurisprudence Award at least twice. Mr. Lewis’ work and integrity have won him awards and recognition from a wide variety of civil, social service and business groups. He is founder and Former President of the East New York Nehemiah Homeowners Association, one of the largest home owner associations in New York City, is Vice Chairman of the City of New York, Community Board 5, and is a member of the Board of East New York Urban Youth Corp and Ruby Weston Manor. He is married to, Carlene Dinnall, with whom he shares one daughter between them, and four stepchildren (3 daughters and a son).

Fitzroy Maitland was born inPorus in the parish of Manchester, Jamaica, to parents Robert and Elizabeth Maitland. Fitzroy is from a very large family, the sixth of seventeen children. The formative years of his life were spent in Porus attending Porus infant and primary schools. He went on to further his education at Manchester High School in Mandeville. Dr.. Maitland is a most knowledgeable individual, indeed, with education from Brooklyn College, Howard University Dental School and numerous others. As a father, Dr. Maitland and his wife Sandra are the proud parents of their wonderful son Sekou, who has taught them how important and challenging the gift of parenthood can be. They realize that the success of the next generation has everything to do wit the commitment, love and nurturing one provides to his/her own child and to children wherever they are. He graduated Howard University in 1981, with honors performance as a dental-dent student majoring in biology. He has won several awards in the field of Prothodontic performance. He worked as in the Ministry of Heatlh as a Dentist in the rural areas. Aligning himself with the Health and Hospital Corporation to provide dental care to thousands of children, Dr. Maitland continued on his mission to improving the dental health. He married his wife, Sandra, in 1982, who was also in the Ministry of Health as a Hospital Administrator at the Cornwall Regional Hospital. As a father, Dr. Maitland and his wife Sandra are the proud parents of their wonderful son, Sekou, who taught them how important and challenging the gift of parenthood can be. They realize that the success of the next generation has everything to do with committmet, love and nurturing you provide to your own child and to children wherever they are.

The Reverend Patrick Perrin is a native of the Island of Jamaica. He is the eldest of three children, he attended the Spanish Town Infant and Primary schoolsduring his formative years and later, the St. Jago High School. He has serviced as both assistant organist and choir director afor the Spanish Town Methodist Chiurch. His background since graduation includes Accounts Bransh, Ministry of Communications abd Works, Government of Jamaica, Accounting Clerk, Comserve Pharmaceuticals and Commodity Service Company. Reverend Perrin is also in position of a BS in Economics (University of W.I.), He has had Pastoral Assignments in Trinidad, Jamaica an Brooklyn, New York. He is presently Pastor, Hanson Place of Central United Methodist Church, and serves on the Board of Ordained Ministry, United Methodist Church, New York Annual Conference.He is married to Pansy (nee McKoy) a Social Work Supervisor with the City of New York. Together, they have four grown children: Ayesha, Administrative Secretary, United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries, the Sub – Saharan African Division; Ayanna, Teacher with the Board of Ed. Mahalia Jackson Junior High School, Brooklyn, NY; Ayodeji, Graduate Coordinator, Dept of Political Science, Columbia University.

Clive Williams is a Psychotherapist and NLP Practitioner. He is a Nationally Certified Instructor of the National Guild of Hypnotists and the International Medical and Dental Hypnotherapy Association. He attended the Long Island University Brooklyn Campus, St. Johns University, Springfield LA, and the American Institute of Hypnotherapy, Irvine, CA. Clive is the holder of advances Diplomas in Psychotherapy, Behavior Modification and Neuro-Lingiuistic Programming Techniques. Clive has completed advanced studies in the role of Spirituality and Healing in Medicine from the Harvard School of Medicine Continuing Education Program and specialized studies in Health and Fitness from Hofstra University & Academy of Applied Personal Training Education. He is well known for his community leadership and is the chairman and founder of the Caribbean & American Mother of the Year Pageant and Caribbean & American Mother of the Achievement Awards. Clives is also President/CEO of Clive Williams Communications Inc., a management-consulting firm. He sits on the Board of the Jamaica Tourism Liaison Committee. Clive is married and has a son and daughter.

The father’s day event was very nicely organized. Each of the recipients received their plaques. There was plenty of food as well as a marvelous array of delicious dessert (including every pie you can think of.) The staff at Crystal Manor did an outstanding job and worked most diligently at serving the guests. The Mistress of Ceremonies was, of course, the Honorable Yvette D. Clarke, Councilwoman for District 40. She also presented each of the Father’s Day Honorees a citation from her office. Joan Myers, a well known Gospel singer from Jamaica sang for the occasion. Kenneth Parker, the Senator from Brooklyn, made a guest appearance and a speech to acknowledge the Maxfield Organization, its work, and the people behind it. Deputy Borough President from Brooklyn was also on hand, and many other people who made wonderful speeches about the organization and their affiliation.

In conclusion, Ms. Una Clark, former Councilwoman for District 40, is now working for the New York Economic Department of Brooklyn. Laurel Fraser, Co-President and the whole board of directors, do a marvelous jobs at organizing these events and raising monies for such a wonder cause. Please keep in mind, Ms. Yvette D. Clark, Councilwoman for District 40 will be running again for re-election later this year. If you are interested in volunteering your time and finding out more of the work she has done for the Borough of Brooklyn, and District 40, please feel free to email her at clarke@council.nyc.ny.us. If you are interested in volunteering or making a donation to the Maxfield cause, please feel free to email the honorable Una S.T. Clarke at uclarke@empire.state.ny.us.