Our Beliefs
To transform lives through the creation of opportunities for the youth of Jamaica.
Our Mission Statement and Vision speak to our focus on enhancing the communities in which we operate. FHC has a passion for Youth Development, particularly in the areas of education and sports and have, over the years, been making significant contributions by way of cash and kind to these causes. Our mandate has therefore propelled us to form the FHC Foundation which was established to:
- Promote the development of Jamaican youth, in particular disadvantaged children and young people in primary, secondary and tertiary schools through education and sports.
- To promote and facilitate programmes which assist young people in improving their capabilities through skills training and to facilitate them in creating and pursuing economic opportunities to better their lives.
Pictorial Highlights of FHC Foundation Launch
Board Members
Mrs. Leodis Douglas
CHAIRMAN
Mrs. Leodis Douglas
CHAIRMAN
Mrs. Leodis Douglas is currently the Human Resource Director and Principal Lecturer at GC Foster College of Physical Education and Sport. In this capacity, Mrs. Douglas is charged with responsibility to guide and manage the overall provision of Human Resources services, policies and programs for the entire college
Before her tenure at GC Foster College, Mrs. Douglas worked at Ministry of Education, Youth & Culture as a Project Manager, and it is during that time that she became a member of GSB Cooperative Credit Union where she worked as a volunteer holding several positions from that of Departmental Representative, member of the Nomination Committee to Assistant Secretary on the Board of Directors.
With an insatiated desire for volunteerism in the credit union movement, on August 1, 2012 Mrs. Douglas was elected to serve on the board of First Heritage Co-operative Credit Union (the newly merged entity of GSB and Churches Cooperative Credit Unions). She presently holds the position of 1st Vice Chairman on the Board, as well as the FHC Retirement Scheme Board of Trustee.
Among her many qualifications, Mrs. Douglas is the holder of a Masters in Business Administration from Florida International University, a B.Sc. in Human Resources Management, graduating summa cum laude and a Diploma in Secondary Education with Honours.
Leodis has been the recipient of several academic awards among which are the 2004 FIU International MBA Scholarship, the 2004 UCJ/IMP Trophy for Most Outstanding Student, and the 2002 GSB Credit Union Renald Mason Scholarship. Mrs. Douglas is a certified Caribbean Credit Union Development Educator, (C-CUDE), member of the Jamaica Employers’ Federation, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) and the Human Resource Management Association of Jamaica, just to name a few.
Mrs. Douglas lists her hobbies as singing, reading and socializing. She is married for over 25 years to Robert with three children: Tremayne, Lori and Robert Jnr.
Mr. Noel Franics
Director
Mr. Noel Franics
Director
Mr. Noel Francis
Mr. Francis, a Commissioned Land Surveyor and a Class 1 Hydrographer, is an Associate of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. His work experience includes the management of the Survey Department as Deputy Director of Surveys, serving as a consultant in Dredging Engineering, Consultant to the Commonwealth Secretariat and the United Nations and serving as a Lecturer at the University of Technology.
Educated at the University of the West Indies, University College London, University of Toronto, Texas A&M University and Nova Southeastern University. Mr. Francis’ qualifications include a Bachelor’s of Sciences Degree (BSc.) and a Master of Arts in Business Administration (MBA).
Mr. Francis currently serves on the Board of the Jamaica Copyright Agency as Treasurer and sits on the Past Due Committee of FHC as well as the Board of Directors. Mr. Francis has been honored by the Jamaican Government with an Order of Distinction.
Mr. Richard Ranger
Director
Mr. Richard Ranger
Director
Mr. Richard Ranger
Mr. Ranger is a Chartered Accountant, a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) in the United Kingdom and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica (ICAJ). He has over fifteen years’ of experience in external and internal auditing, accounting and business operations. Mr. Ranger has worked with PricewaterhouseCoopers, Boldeck Jamaica Limited and the Neal and Massy Group, specializing in audit and assurance, accounting and income tax services.
He is presently the Principal of Ranger and Associates, a local audit and accounting firm and he previously served as a volunteer in the capacity of a member of the Credit Committee.
Ms. Nickeisha Walsh
Director
Ms. Nickeisha Walsh
Director
Ms. Nickeisha Walsh
Ms. Walsh is currently the Executive Director of the Students’ Loan Bureau. She is a qualified Accountant, a Fellow with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica and a member of The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
Ms. Walsh possesses over 15 years of accounting and finance experience and has performed on assignments within various government sectors. Her expertise includes accounting, finance, management consulting, human resource management, strategic planning and leadership.
Mr. Stefan Richards
Director
Mr. Stefan Richards
Director
Mr. Stefan Richards
Mr. Richards is a driven and accomplished professional with extensive experience in international development, finance, and strategy consulting. He is a graduate of SOAS, University of London with a Master of Science in Development Studies (Economics) and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and French from Vassar College in the United States.
At the Inter-American Development Bank, Mr. Richards served as a trusted advisor to the Executive Director for the Caribbean and the Minister of Finance Jamaica, approving loan and guarantee proposals, shaping the team’s knowledge on private-sector operations, policies, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Our Commitments
GSAT SCHOLARSHIPS
The objective of the FHC Foundation is to promote the development of the Jamaican youth in the areas of Education, Sports and Skills Training. Special emphasis will be placed on the improvement of literacy at the Primary and Secondary level.
We recognize the achievement of our youth savers, by awarding our GSAT recipients a scholarship to assist them from 1st form up to 5th form. The objective of the scholarship aims to fulfill our mandate of giving back to our members, to encourage children to strive for excellence in academic performance and to promote a thrifty savings habit amongst young Jamaicans.
Gallery
TERTIARY SCHOLARSHIPS
FHC Credit Union through its Foundation offers the prestigious Renald Mason & Oswald Thorbourne Scholarships to Members and children of Members entering 2nd to final year at a tertiary institution. The FHC Foundation try to meet the expense of financial challenged students who are in good standing academically but is having trouble paying their school fees. These students are sometimes well-rounded students involved in their schools and communities.
Applicants are required to have a minimum "B" average and who are financially challenged. The Foundation opens the application in the month of May each year.
Interested persons are required to submit the following documents for both awards:
OSWALD J. THORBOURNE SCHOLARSHIP
Persons Eligible:
- Applicants must be 35 and under years of age
- Final year Business Management /Administration students attending select tertiary institutions: Northern Caribbean University; University of the West Indies; University of Technology; University College of the Caribbean.
- Applicant must be an active member of FHC for at least 6 months
- Must have maintained at least a “B” average
- Must have been involved in community projects or exemplified leadership skills in clubs, associations or any other civic institution.
- Two (2) written references must be submitted to verify applicant’s involvement in projects.
- Applicant must not be the recipient of any other current scholarships
RENALD MASON SCHOLARSHIP
Persons Eligible:
- Applicants must be 35 and under years of age
- Must be a Member or the child of a Member of FHC
- Final year student at any recognized tertiary institution
- Must demonstrate community volunteerism
- Must demonstrate financial need
- Applicant must maintain a GPA of 3.50
Note: Transcripts should be submitted to outline GPA
SPORTS EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP
Specialist Area of Study: Sports Education/ Management
Eligibility/Qualifications:
- At least a 3.00 GPA
- Demonstrate financial need
- Character fit to be an ambassador for the Credit Union
- Involvement in the wider community
- Other awards, recognition, and achievements
- Must not be the recipient of any other current scholarships
- Two (2) written references must be submitted to verify applicant’s involvement
in projects.
SPECIAL EDUCATION GRANTS
The FHC Foundation is committed to its cause and from time to time we see students who do not meet the required qualification to obtain a scholarship. Therefore, the Foundation through its vision statement “to transform lives through the creation of opportunities for the youth of Jamaica” we offer the Special Education Grant to the most needed applicant with financial challenges.
ENTREPRENEUR AWARDS
The FHC Group through its Foundation provides an Entrepreneurs’ Award which is to encourage entrepreneurship among our young generation. Each grant is valued at $500,000.00.
Generally, any business plan requiring start-up capital above $500,000 will not be considered. However, if the business is deemed to be feasible, the plan may be considered and the beneficiary would be introduced to additional financing after the approved business has started. This is in addition to other loans that would be available to each awardee as a member of the Credit Union. Top-achieving students from all faculties of recognized tertiary institutions are eligible to apply for the awards.
QUALIFICATION:
Students who have maintained at least a “B” average at the end of their study, and who intend to start a business within 6 months after graduation, are invited to prepare and submit a comprehensive Business Plan for the Small Business enterprise.
The Plans that are judged to be the top three and most feasible, will each receive the sum of $500,000.00 for use as start-up capital.