GIVING BACK

A History of Giving Back to the Community

Since the very beginning, Ocean (Caribbean) Distributors has demonstrated a strong commitment to the community as an integral part of the business plan. Therefore, in 1998, the New Image Foundation Corporation, a not-for-profit, was founded to work in partnership with the fragrance operations in outreach to local residents …. particularly youth. Over the years, thousands of residents have benefited from these programs through summer youth employment programs, after school workshops, I.T. training, personal development workshops, entrepreneurship training programs, career-based training workshops for critical thinking, and more.

Another successful collaboration was created with the Miss Virgin Islands Scholarship Organization, which was a Miss America Organization member state from 2004 to 2012. In a partnership with New Image Foundation, young women were prepared to serve as ambassadors for their communities, and role models for youth. Their service to the community was rewarded with scholarships and encouragement to continue their educations. Each year, the young woman chosen as Miss Virgin Islands was sent to the national Miss America Pageant to represent the Virgin Islands, a once in a lifetime experience.

Former Miss America 2004, Ericka Dunlap, came to St. Thomas to serve as guest speaker for the Youth Mentorship Council Seminar sponsored by New Image Foundation and the Miss Virgin Islands Scholarship Organization. The boys and girls of the council are junior and senior high school students. They chose their own theme: It’s Cool to be a Lady……or a Gentleman. The mission of the Youth Mentorship Council is to inspire young people to seek higher education, to commit to community service, and to engage in the performing arts.

Cynthia Jerry served on a volunteer basis as Executive Director of the Miss Virgin Islands Scholarship Organization from 2004 to 2012. During that time more than more than $135,000 in scholarship awards have been disbursed to young women of the Virgin Islands through this unique partnership.