About us

Our Mission:

Children of Jamaica Outreach, Inc. COJO, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in New York, whose mission is to help improve the health, education and general well-being of underserved children in Jamaica and the United States.

The Vision:

Children of Jamaica Outreach (COJO) Inc., a New York based Jamaican charity, is the brainchild of Gary Williams who started the organization in 1994 as a way of giving back to his homeland. Passionate about wanting to make a difference, he believed the best way to do so was to invest in the children, forming a partnership with the then Child Development Agency (CDA), now the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA). Since inception, COJO has provided support and assistance for a number of child care institutions and facilities under its aegis, and in 2012 expanded that strategic alliance to include scholarships to deserving state wards enrolled in a tertiary institution.

The Birth of An Idea:

COJO is an offshoot of the name, CUDJOE, the Maroon leader, who rebelled against slavery by the British in 19th Century Jamaica. Captain Cudjoe was a proud warrior who took a stand against colonial oppression and fought the British for the freedom of his people. In this regard, COJO exemplifies duty, courage, strength and commitment in championing the cause of needy children in both the national and international arenas. Spanning the shores of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea from the cosmopolitan neighborhood of Queens, New York to the vibrant melting pot of Jamaica, a network of dedicated individuals are working to improve the lives of less fortunate children.

COJO's values are built on the foundation that children are our greatest asset and must be provided with services that will improve their existing conditions. COJO continues to champion the cause of disadvantaged children and continues to reach across miles positively impacting lives.

COJO Executive Board

• Gary Williams, COJO Founder
• Sharon Locke-Stoney, Board Chair
• Marjorie Phillips Laroche, Vice Chair
• Mark A. Crawford, Esq., Legal Counsel
• Paulette Taylor, Finance
• Marcia Erskine, Communications Consultant
• Lyndon Taylor, Communications Director