At the official launch of the Newtown Youth Development Programme (NYDP) held July 10 in Dominica, Irving “Tosh” Williams, speaking on behalf of the philanthropic Mason family, announced the family’s ongoing commitment to the youth-focused initiative, framing it as a life-transforming project with the potential to set a benchmark for community development across the island.
Williams emphasized that the family’s initial contribution to NYDP is far from the end of their involvement. “This is not the first or the last contribution that will be made by the Mason family,” Williams stated. “Sports is something that is at the heart of the Mason family, and we want to see young people really get involved in athletics and advance in whatever path they choose to pursue.”
The effort to back NYDP grew out of months of conversations between Roy Mason, who currently resides in the United States, and NYDP Chairman Joffre Faustin, centered on expanding opportunity for young residents of Newtown. Roy Mason, alongside his wife Anthea, daughter Tyra, grandson Jayden, his sister Yolanda and Yolanda’s husband Birdy Shillingford, led the fundraising and donation drive, with additional support pouring in from family members and friends spread across the U.S. and Canada.
For decades, the Mason family has carried out quiet, private philanthropic work supporting individual families and communities across Dominica. The launch of NYDP marks one of the first times the family’s charitable work has been featured in a public setting, Williams noted. He shared that he initially questioned whether the family could pull together the full list of requested supplies for the program, but within just a few weeks, the network of supporters assembled a large shipment of critical materials: ranging from professional sporting gear and coaching resources to personal toiletries for participating youth.
Williams extended sincere congratulations to Faustin and the entire NYDP executive team for turning the idea of a community youth program into a tangible, operational initiative. “I am truly touched by the magnitude of what has taken place here,” Williams said, noting he is confident the donations will deliver meaningful benefits to both NYDP’s organizing committee and the young people it serves.
Along with his in-person remarks, Williams shared a formal written statement from the Mason family that further laid out the group’s vision for the program. The statement praised NYDP’s leadership for launching what the family calls a “meaningful and impactful initiative” that addresses critical gaps in youth opportunity. The family expressed clear hope that NYDP will become a replicable model for other communities across Dominica, by delivering safe recreational spaces, structured activity, and educational opportunities for young Newtown residents.
In the message, the family directly addressed participating youth, urging them to take full advantage of the program by leaning on the guidance of coaches and mentors, while committing to consistent hard work to reach their personal and professional goals. The statement also encouraged parents to play an active role in the initiative: supporting their children’s participation, volunteering with fundraising, tracking progress, and instilling the belief that young people can achieve any goal they set their minds to.
The Mason family closed their statement by expressing gratitude for the chance to contribute to NYDP, thanking the program’s committee for welcoming their involvement in what they called “a small role in such a powerful and uplifting initiative.” Williams closed the launch event remarks by reaffirming the family’s long-term commitment to the program, saying family members will continue to mobilize their extended networks of relatives and friends across North America and the Caribbean to back NYDP’s core mission. He closed by wishing the program every success, expressing unwavering confidence that it will leave a lasting, positive mark on youth development in the Newtown community for generations to come.