KINGSTON, Jamaica — A major Caribbean banking institution has thrown its full weight behind a signature Mother’s Day charity initiative aimed at empowering vulnerable women across the island. Scotiabank, one of Jamaica’s longest-serving financial organizations, has secured the title sponsorship for the upcoming Run for Mom 5K, scheduled to take place on Sunday, May 10, and has contributed a JA$3 million donation to fund critical programs for teen mothers served by the Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation.
The formal donation transfer was held earlier this week, with Scotiabank representatives handing over the ceremonial cheque to Dr. Lawrence Scott, a prominent cardiologist, director of the Heart and Vascular Centre, and the lead organizer of the annual Run for Mom 5K. Scott called the partnership a landmark milestone for the event, noting that months of collaborative discussions laid the groundwork for the agreement.
“Our conversations with Scotiabank around this initiative have been ongoing for quite some time,” Scott explained during the presentation ceremony. “Their leadership team has been deeply engaged from the start, because this cause aligns perfectly with their core mission of strengthening families, investing in local communities, and advancing national development. After completing their internal review and due diligence processes, they formally committed to serve as our title sponsor for this year’s race, and we couldn’t be more grateful.”
All funds raised through entry fees and sponsorships for the 2025 Run for Mom 5K will be distributed to three local healthcare and community organizations. The Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation, which supports teen pregnant people and young parents across Jamaica, is the event’s primary beneficiary. Two additional local healthcare facilities — Victoria Jubilee Hospital and Charles Chin Loy Health Centre — will receive a portion of the proceeds as co-beneficiaries to expand their maternal and public health services.
Novlet Howell, executive director of the Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation, shared her enthusiasm for the new partnership, highlighting Scotiabank’s decades-long track record of investing in gender equity and community development in Jamaica.
“Scotiabank is a globally recognized brand that has been rooted in Jamaica for generations, with a consistent record of backing women’s empowerment, girls’ education, and improved public health access across the country,” Howell said. “We are thrilled that our foundation will be the primary recipient of support from this sponsorship, alongside the contributions we’ll receive from other individual donors and community partners joining this year’s event. This investment will allow us to expand our critical services for teen moms, who often face systemic barriers to healthcare, education, and economic security.”
Organizers of the Run for Mom 5K note that the event not only raises critical funds for local maternal health and community support initiatives, but also encourages public physical activity to promote heart health, tying into Scott’s work as a leading cardiologist in the region. Registration for the May 10 race remains open to runners and walkers of all ages and ability levels across Jamaica.