Jane E. Toussaint Foundation
A legacy of service—building resilient communities in Antigua & Barbuda. Rooted in family history and guided by dignity, we invest in youth potential through education, health, sports, and the arts—making space for opportunity to endure.
Legacy
The Underwood Family’s Caribbean roots began in Montserrat and Dominica. This branch of the family came to Antigua from Dominica via Jane E. Toussaint, our late matriarch who migrated to Antigua in 1942. She was later joined in 1944 by her only child, Joan. Our oldest maternal ancestors have been traced to the Tikar people of northwestern Cameroon. Joan met George Underwood of Montserrat in the late 1950’s. They married in 1959 and had five children: Gerard, Jerome, Joan Jr., Jasmin and James. George also had three other sons, Lincoln, Trevor, and Jose. Our family refers to these eight as “Gen 3” to indicate our third generation in Antigua. We are now on our fifth generation. This foundation is named to honor the legacy of Jane E. Toussaint, affectionately known to the family as Granny or Granny Janie.
Granny made her living as a street vendor buying and selling fruits and vegetables. So prominent a vendor was she that when eventually the Antigua Public Market was built, she earned the coveted placement of stall number one, just off the main entrance. Granny was very well known and built a reputation for being a reliable supplier to many families and hotels in Antigua and Barbuda who relied on her for fresh produce on a weekly basis. She was photographed by locals and tourists alike and has been featured in several publications including the first edition of the photographic essay “A Little Bit of Paradise”. Granny is the foundation of our family’s growth and development.
Granny Janie was an amazing woman who taught us more than we could retain. Although she did not have any formal education, she was a disciplined entrepreneur. She taught us about love; a “look out for people” kind of love. It’s not a coincidence that several of us in Gen 3 and 4 work in various “looking out for people” fields. A foundation focused on looking out for people is consistent with her legacy.
The Jane E. Toussaint Foundation is our formal and deliberate action to perpetuate her legacy. Working in service of others is something that our family has done informally for decades. Establishing this foundation is the institutionalization of our habit and passion for walking the talk.
The Foundation’s story is grounded in everyday enterprise and care—values that continue to shape how we show up in service.
Continuing a Legacy of Service
Your support strengthens youth opportunity and community resilience across Antigua & Barbuda—through programmes designed to be practical, culturally grounded, and built for lasting outcomes.
Trust is built through clarity.
We prioritize community-centered development—listening first, designing with local context, and reporting what we learn. Our impact story is not only what we do, but how we do it: with dignity, partnership, and long-term outcomes in view.
We honor Jane E. Toussaint’s example of practical care—showing up consistently, supplying what is needed, and building trust over time. That same spirit informs how we support youth today: through structured programmes, mentorship, and partnerships that make opportunity more reachable and resilient.
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