The RKM Foundation

The RKM Foundation
Thank you!

Saturday, June 16, 2018

The Benefits of Investing in Early Childhood Education!


Supporting and investing in education for children during the early years is one of the smartest things any country can do to eradicate extreme poverty, promote shared prosperity, while creating the human capital needed to diversify and grow economies.

Research has shown that early childhood experiences have a profound impact on brain development; affecting learning, health, behavior and of course income. One such research was conducted by Gertler & Heckman in 2014. “A 20-year study of children in Jamaica by Nobel laureate James Heckman, showed that early stimulation interventions for infants and toddlers increased their future earnings by 25 percent which is equivalent to adults who grew up in wealthier households.”
          
  There are many of us in developed countries who understand the benefits of this investment. Yet, in many underdeveloped and developing countries around the world, millions of young children are not realizing their full potential due to inadequate nutrition, lack of early stimulation, learning, nurturing care, and the constant exposure to stress adversely affecting their development.

According to the World Bank, in low and middle income countries over 250 million children under the age of 5 are at risk of not fulfilling their developmental potential.

One such country that continues to face challenges in ‘Early Childhood Education’ is Jamaica.  The plight of ‘Early Childhood Education’ and the resources needed to make it effective is often overlooked by many, as the familiar images of Jamaica being a tourist destination with warm sunshine, friendly people, beautiful beaches, the birthplace of reggae music and having NO PROBLEMS are far more prevalent. Although all of those aspects are  things I love about my country, the reality  is  Early childhood education is not funded  by the government and in many rural towns, hundreds  of Pre-K and elementary schools are  plagued by lack  of basic school supplies and facilities that would seem standard in the United States.

Early childhood education is not a luxury, it is a necessity. Too often the far-reaching effects of poverty makes this a luxury. To provide a solution to the problem that is facing the Island of Jamaica, I have founded the RKM Foundation Inc. in an effort to raise awareness for the issue and to promote change through imaginative play by focusing on children ages 4-10 years. I have seen first hand the effects of poverty on school attendance rate and a child’s ability to learn.  I have also seen the benefits an investment in early childhood education can make. My sibling and I are products of that invest among numerous others. However, there are many others who were and still are unable to benefit due to lack of basic resources.

In an effort to be a part of the solution, the RKM Foundation Inc. partners with local schools and libraries in rural Jamaica to do an annual distribution, we provide; school supplies and age appropriate games to the schools along with toys and books for each student.  We create reading, interactive and developmental initiatives with Pre-K and Elementary schools to promote concepts that are vital to cognitive development and exposure while expanding the students overall outlook.

Since our inception in 2012 we have impacted over 10,000 children in over 50 schools and 10 libraries.  Our aim is to continue to impact the lives of children in Jamaica through promoting the benefits of early childhood education. The Goal of the organization is to be the platform for changing the way the Jamaican government views early childhood education. To find out more about who we are and how you can  help us to continue to make an impact visit our website at: http://www.therkmfoundation.org/donations.html


New Hope Primary - Westmoreland Jamaica

Chevely Basic School- Manchester, Jamaica

Nightingale Primary  School, St. Elizabeth,  Jamaica

Thursday, October 20, 2016

MoPweeze Bakery!!!

Check out "Mo'Pweeze Bakery - Vegan & Allergen free Cafe" on Indiegogo http://igg.me/at/mopweezebakery/shre

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

The RKM Foundation Fourth Annual Toy and Book Drive

We celebrate the life of our brother Rohan Keil Miller whose memory we honor by giving back and raising awareness of underprivileged children in rural Jamaica.

We have launched our fourth annual book and toy drive—we have seen tremendous growth in its outreach and collection because of your generosity and willingness to bring joy to so many children in Jamaica. To date, we've impacted over 7,000 Jamaican schoolchildren and over 40 schools.)


Collection has already started and will continue until March 18, 2016!!! Our collection box is up at the Morris Plain library, located at 77 Glenbrook Road, Morris Plains NJ. Pick ups can be scheduled within Morris and Essex county, send us an email or visit our website.

If you don't have toys or books to donate, consider making a tax-deductible contribution to help us deliver the toys and books this year.  One one coco, full basket; every little bit helps!

Much love & walk good.

Benefitness Fundraiser photos

Everyone who participated in Benefitness got a great workout! Charlie Remiggio at CR Fitness helped everyone get into the action

Benefitness raised over $800, all of which will go to deliver toys, books and school supplies to underprivileged children in Jamaica.

(If you couldn't make it, consider making a donation or like our Facebook page! To date, we've impacted over 7,000 Jamaican schoolchildren and over 40 schools.)

Planking never felt so good!

Charlie Remiggio helps get the right form.

Even our founder, Janeka Miller, gets in on the action!

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Benefitness!

Give. Sweat. Smile. Repeat.

On January 30, 2016, The RKM Foundation teamed up with CR Fitness to for Benefitness: 2 special fitness classes to raise money for our 2016 Distribution of toys and books. Thank you for all your support! Benefitness raised over $800, all of which will go to deliver toys, books and school supplies to underprivileged children in Jamaica.

(If you couldn't make it, consider making a donation or like our Facebook page! To date, we've impacted over 7,000 Jamaican schoolchildren and over 40 schools.)


Monday, January 25, 2016

RKM and Benefitness in the news!

Our Benefitness event is featured in the Wyckoff-Franklin Lakes Daily Voice!
WYCKOFF, N.J. — A Jan. 30 workout at a Wyckoff fitness center will do more than burn calories as it raises funds for underprivileged children in Jamaica.
CR Fitness on Lawlins Road will host a "Benefitness" class to support the RKM Foundation.
The foundation was formed to honor Rohan Kiel Miller, 10, who died in an accident in Jamaica. The group now tries to inspire children in the country through education and fun, founder Janeka Miller said.
For $20 people can come work out at the Wyckoff gym from 10 to 11 a.m. or 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with all the proceeds donated to RKM.
"We are absolutely thrilled they would do this for us," Miller said of CR Fitness. "This is a selfless act for them to welcome us."

Read More

Sunday, August 2, 2015

The RKM Foundation Official Photo Shoot

Family, it's been a while but we are still hard at work, doing our collections, selecting schools and organizing distribution  for 2015. However we finally took some time to get everyone (minus Patreena Bailey-Green) together for an "official" photo shoot as you all know we had to share a few of them.
We hope you like them as much as we do.

WEEEEEEE!!!!!
THE RKM FOUNDATION TEAM

The RKM Foundation Fundraising BBQ

Sunday August 16, 2015 BBQ!

1pm–6pm Glenfield Park, 115 Maple Avenue, Montclair, NJ. 

Come and have a great time, bring your family and friends and enjoy the day!! Your donation helps send books and toys to children in rural Jamaica. 

Your tax-deductible donation of $30 or more (per person) gets you on our BBQ guest list. (Children under 10 are free!). Donate using our Paypal link now!



Monday, November 24, 2014

The Joys of Fall

Gathering Leaves by Robert Frost
 Spades take up leaves
No better than spoons,
And bags full of leaves
Are light as balloons.

I make a great noise
Of rustling all day
Like rabbit and deer
Running away.
 But the mountains I raise
Elude my embrace,
Flowing over my arms
And into my face.

I may load and unload
Again and again
Till I fill the whole shed,
And what have I then?

Next to nothing for weight,
And since they grew duller
From contact with earth,
Next to nothing for color.

Next to nothing for use.
But a crop is a crop,
And who's to say where
The harvest shall stop?

FALL IN ALL ITS GLORY


STORY ROOM FOR THE LITTLE ONES@MT.OLIVE PUBLIC LIBRARY



Happy Thanksgiving from The RKM Foundation

 HAPPY THANKSGIVING  FROM THE  RKM FOUNDATION
I was heading to work and this gorgeous fellow was blocking traffic, pecking at my car door and every other car that stopped to allow them to cross the street. I couldn't resist taking a picture. This brought back so many fun childhood memories: growing up in Jamaica we had two turkeys who were pets and were overly protective of our entire family.  We named them Jack & Jill.

No we never ate them; they died of old age. ( I know someone was thinking that we did:-)) Wild turkeys are beautiful, please take the little ones to the zoo to see them or if they happen to be strolling through your back yard admire them for the gorgeous birds they are—even if they are a little silly from time to time.

Much love & Walk Good.



The RKM Foundation Third Annual Toy and Book Drive

Family, it's that time of the year again, the leaves are changing, the air is crisp, sweet smell of fresh apples and apple cider can be found everywhere. The kids are eager to go apple picking, take one too many hayrides or pick the perfect lopsided pumpkin to put on the porch.


It is hard to believe that we can now reminisce about Halloween, only a few weeks ago the door  bells rang constantly with the trick or treaters in adorable costumes. 
Along with the festivities of the season we celebrate the birth of our brother Rohan Keil Miller whose memory we honor by giving back and raising awareness of underprivileged children in rural Jamaica.


Rohan's birthday was on October 20th; he would have been 42 years old. In keeping with tradition it also signified the launch of our 3rd annual book and toy drive which we have seen tremendous growth in its outreach and collection because of your generosity and willingness to bring joy to so many children in Jamaica.


Collection has already started and will continue until February 17th, 2015!!! Our collection box is already  up at the Morris Plain library, located at 77 Glenbrook Road, Morris Plains NJ. Pick ups can be scheduled within Morris and Essex county, send us an email or visit our website.

Much love & walk good.


Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Summertime, and the livin' is easy

Listening to Ella Fitzgerald singing "Summertime" always makes summer seem that much better. The song conjures up images of lazy hot summer days, relaxing by a pool, creek or beach with nothing but the sounds of the childhood laughter,adults chatter and time standing still. Everyone yearning for the cool summer night to break the heat of day and for the nighttime festivities to begin.

AHHHHHHH, summertime...the livin' is indeed easy.

"Summertime, and the livin' is easy
Fish are jumpin' and the cotton is high 

Oh, your daddy's rich and your ma is good-lookin'

So hush little baby, Don't you cry

One of these mornings you're gonna rise up singing 

And you'll spread your wings and you'll take to the sky 

But 'til that morning, there ain't nothin' can harm you

With Daddy and Mammy standin' by..." 

Family, I hope you are  enjoying  all that summer has to offer. Take the time to unwind with family and friends. Here are a few images of HAPPY children to make you smile. HAPPY SUMMER LOVES.
                                   
Much love & walk good!








Uniting for a common cause

This is our second year being associated with the Jamaica Impact Inc., (JAMPACT) annual school supplies and toy drive. We are excited to once again be involved with an organization that mirrors our mission and goals. The boxes have been placed in various locations across the tri-state area and donations are coming in. Your generosity  makes it possible for us to impact the lives of so many children.

Since our inception in 2010 we have sought to join forces with like minded organizations as our desire is to function within a community working towardsa common goal of helping children to have a better future. Our mission statement outlines our reason for giving. Today we want to pose this question to YOU! 
WHY DO YOU GIVE?

We look forward  to your responses.

Much Love & Walk Good

Sunday, April 27, 2014

The RKM Foundation Distribution 2014 Photos!

These are photos from RKM Foundation Third Annual Distribution (2014). The experience humbles and motivates us to do more as we continue to help spark the imagination of rural Jamaica's many underprivileged schoolchildren with the help of donated toys, books, and school supplies.
As always, consider making a donation or like our Facebook page! To date, we've impacted over 7,000 Jamaican schoolchildren and over 40 schools.)

Much love & Walk good
The babies of Faith  Early Childhood Institution in St. Elizabeth
The hug of a lifetime!!

Smiling faces at Nightingale Grove Primary

Happy boys&girls@Nightingale Grove Primary

Joy at Newton primary

More Joy

They are just happy!!!

Ready to distribute

Love these boys too cute!!!

Teachers@Retirement Primary

All Smiles@Retirement Primary

Bunny ears rock!!

Everyone is ready to read

Jointwood SDA Prep

Because they're happy

Elderslie Primary &Junior high


Reading is fun

Dig into reading

The babies are ready to read

Isn't she cute

Elderslie Kindergarten cutie

Pigtails Princess


Smiling faces at Elderslie  Basic

Boys being boys

Johnson Basic school 


Sleeping baby- Naptime

Mommy &the babies:-)

Niagara basic school babies choosing their toys&books

Lets see what you got!!!


Her baby is bigger than her!!

YAY!!!!

Hugging teddy& her  book

Smiling


Contagious smile

Never get tired of seeing that banner

 Ready to go!!!

Niagara Primary Grade 1

Niagara primary  Grade 4

Another table full of goodies

Friendships

Friendships

More smiles