On March 24th, 2009, the Government of the Bahamas licensed the Paradise Children’s Foundation as a not-for-profit corporation. The goals and objectives of the Foundation include but are not limited to:
- promoting charitable projects for the general benefit of children residing in The Commonwealth of The Bahamas;
- promoting the education, health and welfare of minors in the Bahamas, who through their social and economic circumstances, are in need of some type of assistance.
The Foundation is currently being funded by direct donations and special events. The formal launch of the Foundation took place on February 1st, 2013 through a gala fundraising evening called “Pandora’s Box in Paradise”. The event, held at the Atlantis Resort, proved to be a huge success with over 500 plus guests in attendance and over $500,000 in revenue raised. A second event, equally as successful, was held in 2014. Paradise Children’s Foundation supports programs and other child-based non-profits that directly improve the health and well-being of Bahamian Children. In the past, charities benefiting from Paradise Children’s Foundation have included but are not limited to: The Seahorse Institute, Ranfurly Home for Children, Elizabeth Estates Home for Children, Emergency Children’s Hostel, Bahamas Down Syndrome Association, Let’s Swim Bahamas, REACH, ICAN, School Hygiene Kit, School meal program. Through your commitment, warmth and generosity, we hope to continue to make a positive impact on the lives of hundreds of children in years to come. On behalf of the Paradise Children’s Foundation, we thank you for your support, and for helping make our dream of improving the lives of children in the Bahamas a reality.
Harry S. Cohen Harry S. Cohen and his wife Arlene have 2 married daughters and 3 wonderful grandchildren. Mr. Cohen is a venture capitalist, a retired businessman and developer. He has served on numerous boards, but now enjoys a quiet life in the Bahamas. Mr. Cohen feels it is everyone’s responsibility to give back to the community, and he desires to help the underprivileged children right here in the Bahamas.
Wendy Ellis Wendy Ellis was born and raised in Montreal, Canada. After completing her education she relocated to Toronto, Ontario, where she has resided for over 25 years. Her work experience has included 15 + years as a personal assistant, most recently with Virgin Mobile Canada. In addition to her role as personal assistant to the President & CEO, and close relations with Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, Wendy worked extensively on philanthropic initiatives helping raise over $3 million dollars for Virgin Unite, Virgin’s in house charity.
Wendy currently splits her time between Canada and Nassau. While in Nassau, she focuses her spare time on charitable efforts locally and became a Founding Director of the Paradise Children’s in 2013. Wendy was instrumental in the success of two gala events called “Pandora’s Box in Paradise” raising over 1 million dollars for local Bahamian children’s charities. Wendy is passionate about giving back and hopes to continue to have a positive impact on local communities and individuals in need.
Email:
Wendy@paradisechildrensfoundation.com
Charlotte Gibson Charlotte is originally from New Zealand and has been living and working in The Bahamas since 2001. Charlotte studied Sustainable Product Design at the Surrey Institute for Art & Design in England, achieving a Master's Degree and Object Design at the University of Sydney graduating with an Honors Degree.
Charlotte originally worked with the PCF team building the website and branding, she later joined the board in 2018 after identifying ways to collaborate with Princess Margaret Hospital, the foundation and her clients. She works at Pure Salt Design in Nassau.
Email:
Charlotte@paradisechildrensfoundation.com
David Johnstone David Johnstone was born in Vancouver, Canada and attended the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University, graduating with a major in the fields of economics and commerce. He was admitted to the Bahamas Bar in 1988 and is currently a partner specializing in resort and hospitality legal services in the Nassau based law firm, Lennox Paton. David has served as a director on many Bahamian and international Boards, including the Bahamian non-profit organizations St. Andrews International School and We The People. David was one of the founding members of Paradise Children’s Foundation and is a resident of Ocean Club Estates on Paradise Island.
Jane Waterous Canadian Jane Waterous is a graduate of Queen’s University in Fine Arts, OCAD University in Commercial Art and Design and New York University in Film Production. She began her career as the creative director for a Toronto based multi media firm. After completing her post secondary education in New York City, she returned to Toronto to produce and direct a number of short fiction films. These films appeared in several international film festivals and were ultimately sold to television. In 1999, she moved from Canada to the Bahamas and immersed herself in her painting.
Jane is committed to making a difference in the Bahamas. She was the Founding President and past board member of the Bahamas International Film Festival, has produced a number of art exhibitions with the proceeds going to local charities and is honoured to be a part of the Paradise Children's Foundation (the charity whose sole purpose is to help better the lives of Bahamian Children) committee that put together the highly successful fundraiser, Pandora's Box.
Jane is a current Trustee of Lakefield College School in Canada and the newest board member of Paradise Island Foundation.
Sarah Markantonis Sarah Markantonis is a graduate of The Conrad N. Hilton School of Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of Houston in Texas. She started her career in the hospitality industry with Sandals Resorts in Montego Bay, Jamaica, and then moved on to Starwood Hotels and Resorts in Houston where she met her husband George. As the wife of the President and Managing Director of the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island, Sarah participates in entertaining visiting celebrities and government officials, as well as hosting numerous social, charitable and staff events. (**Prior to their relocation to the Bahamas, their assignments included Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and the development of Atlantis in Dubai, U.A.E.)
Born in Jamaica, Sarah is an island girl at heart. She is very fond of the island nation of the Bahamas and, amongst her other activities, has involved herself with the Paradise Children’s Foundation as a way of giving back to the community which she calls home. A member of the organizing committee for the first “Pandora’s Box in Paradise” fundraiser, she is very proud of the success of the event, and even more thrilled about the significant proceeds that can now be dedicated to helping the children of the Bahamas. Sarah lives on Paradise Island with her husband George and their two sons, Minas and Michael.
Milton Mosko Milton Mosko attended Georgia Institute of Technology where he obtained a Bachelor Of Science Degree in Industrial Management. He currently serves as a Director of Mosco Group of Companies and as a Board Member of Summit Insurance and Odyssey Aviation in Nassau, Bahamas.
Ed Fields Born October 13, 1958, Nassau, Bahamas
Married to Michele Fields CPA
One daughter- Candace
Education: - Xavier’s College Lower School (Primary)
- Queen’s College High School (Secondary)
- St. John’ University - Minnesota (B.A. Government)
- University of Georgia – Athens(M.A. Public Administration; Minor-Finance & Banking)
Employment: - 1981 – 1983: Reporter, Columnist and UPI Correspondent (Nassau Guardian)
- 1984 – 1985: Personnel Director, Survey Research Centre (University of Georgia)
- 1985 – 1987: Manager, Citibank (Nassau)
- 1987 – 1990: Assistant Vice-President, Sales & Marketing Britam Insurance (Nassau)
- 1990 – 1998: Senior Account Executive, Financial Services, Insurance Management (Nassau)
- 1993 – 1998: Talk Show Host, Ed Fields Live 100 JAMZ (Nassau)
- 1993 – 1998 Co-Host Morning Show 100 JAMZ (Nassau)
- 2000- 2014: Co-Host Morning Show Cool 96(Nassau)
- 2015- Present: Host Ed Fields Live Kiss 96FM(Nassau)
1998 – Present: Senior Vice President, Retail Services and Public Affairs, Atlantis (Paradise Island); responsibilities include overseeing all Local Public Relations, Media Relations, Governmental Affairs, Community Affairs, Internal Communication, Desk Top Publishing, Retail Concessions, Marina Village.
Awards/Honours Bahamas Supermarkets Foundation Scholar
U.S. Senate Intern (Senator Dave Durenberger, MN)
Most Outstanding Investigative Reporter for the Caribbean, Caribbean Publishers & Broadcasters Association
Rotary International Foundation Scholar
Georgia Governor’s Intern
Most Environmentally Conscious Citizen (Bahamas National Pride Association)
Directorships: Conmmonwealth Brewery – Director
Nassau Downtown Partnership – Managing Director
Brickell Management Group - Director
Bahamas National Festival Commission - Commisioner
R. Wayne Chee-A-Tow Sr R. Wayne Chee-A-Tow Sr. was born in Nassau Bahamas; he is currently the CEO of Hillside (Bahamas) Ltd. operating luxury retail and development, with Sylvia his wife and sons Rodney & Carlo. Mr. Chee-A-Tow Sr. has served on numerous boards in Freeport, Grand Bahama where he operated Hillside Investment Co. Ltd.
Gilbert Lloyd Born in Biarritz, France in 1940. Educated at Bedford School, Bedford, UK from 1949-1958 and then studied History of Art at the Courtauld Institute of Art, London University, from 1959-62 (BA Honours. in History of Art).
Joined the family art business, the Marlborough Galleries, in 1963 in which he has been active ever since. Responsibilities at the Marlborough have included organising many international art exhibitions in museums and private galleries worldwide.
Became a permanent resident of the Bahamas in 1991 and in 1993 founded the Royal Bahamas Police Force Dependants’ Trust with Judge Emmanuel Osadebay and Grafton Ifill Senior. The Trust looks after the dependants of policemen incapacitated or killed in the line of duty.
Enjoys his work, blue water fishing, swimming, travelling, reading and classical music.