About Us
Who Are We
We are the Class of 1976, proud graduates of Excelsior High School in Jamaica, West Indies, fondly known as XCLR or “Age” (pronounced AGGI), a shortened form of the Latin exhortation, “Age Animo, which means Do it with thy might.
Many of us have excelled in our fields of endeavor and are now lawyers, doctors, engineers, musicians, business owners, and other professionals. We owe our success in no small part to the excellent foundation we received at XCLR. As a way of showing our gratitude and honoring our alma mater, we would like to “pay it forward” by helping students who are without the means to afford an education at XCLR.
Imagine children who feel fortunate about attending school, but who are unable to share with anyone how hungry they are. Teachers who cannot understand when children underperform may discover they are undernourished and cannot maximize their learning skills. Inadequate supplies may also limit the ability of children to take part in school activities during pandemic surges, natural disasters and other emergencies when educational resources and equipment are at a premium.
These are some of the things that our fundraising helps.
Why We Exist
Our own individual and collective experiences have helped to inform our decision to become more actively involved in supporting our alma mater, XLCR. In retrospect, we recognize that as wonderful as many students might have found the high school experience, there were so many others who could have excelled further had it not been for various personal challenges in their living environments, which significantly impacted their academic, and in some instances, their social progress.
In addition to financial difficulties, some students have been dealing with issues such as physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, homelessness, hunger, domestic violence, and substance use by parent and/or child – issues that most people would find uncomfortable to share with anyone. Imagine then, the impact of these traumatic situations on minors who feel powerless to address their individual situations but are expected to cope and excel in school.
In light of these concerns, the 1976 Foundation supports the Excelsior student population via a mentorship program to enhance academic and social growth as needed. In instances in which mentorship might not be the clear or only solution, the foundation will fundraise and work with other reputable resources to address the identified issues.
Our Mission
1976 Foundation's mission is to support the academic, mental wellness and hygiene for at-risk students.
An at-risk student is a student who requires temporary or ongoing intervention in order to succeed academically. At-risk students are also adolescents who are less likely to transition successfully into adulthood and achieve economic self-sufficiency. Characteristics of at-risk students include emotional or behavioral problems, truancy, low academic performance, showing a lack of interest for academics, and expressing a disconnection from the school environment.
Specifically, we provide funding for the following programs:
Professional counseling sessions for emotionally and psychologically challenged students;
Academic tutoring outside of regular classrooms for underperforming students;
Prosocial activities aimed at promoting positive self-image to include sports, creative and fine arts.
Our Theme and Message
Our central theme is “Promoting the self-image of humans as created in the image of God.”
Our message is sponsoring wellness for students through the use of professional counselors, mentors and other resources, since elevating the youth assures a better future for all generations.