“An Investment in the Future”: Alpha’s Florida Alumnae Stage a Gala to Grow Their Old School’s Support Fund

• Alpha alumnae in Florida organised the ‘Beyond the Stars’ charity gala
• The aim is to grow the school’s financial assistance fund
• STEM, robotics, literacy and student wellness are priorities
• The alumnae president called it an investment in the future

Former students of Alpha, the Convent of Mercy Academy in Kingston associated with the Sisters of Mercy, are raising money for their old school from abroad, the Jamaica Observer reported in March 2026.

The Convent of Mercy Academy Association Inc, the Alpha Alumnae Florida Chapter, scheduled its 2026 charity gala, “Beyond the Stars”, for Saturday, March 14, at Club 19 at the Pembroke Lakes Golf and Racquet Club. The all-white banquet and dance is meant to put science, technology, engineering and mathematics at the centre of its support and to expand the financial assistance fund for the school and local charities.

Kerry-Ann Brown, serving her second term as alumnae president, said: “It is not just a celebration but an investment in the future of the students attending Alpha and our local community.” She said the group’s work now includes structured mentorship and career exposure. “Our approach now includes virtual mentorship touchpoints, career panels and partnerships with professionals across industries.”

“Whether it is robotics, literacy, leadership training, or student wellness, our role is to complement and enhance what the school is already building,” Brown added. The evening was also set to honour people for service, leadership and philanthropy, with Alpha head girl Tamoya Thompson, the 2026 recipient of the Sister Mary Bernadette Little Award, as guest speaker.

Diaspora alumni associations are one of the quiet engines of investment in Jamaica’s church schools. Money raised in Florida, New York, Toronto and London regularly pays for labs, equipment, bursaries and building upkeep that government budgets and school fees cannot cover.

For Jamaicans overseas thinking about how to give back, a school’s alumni body offers a structured, accountable route with visible results. For the churches and religious orders that own these campuses, organised alumni support is a long-term asset in its own right, helping keep historic buildings in use and schools strong enough to anchor their neighbourhoods.

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