Lorrimer (Lorry) Burford leads The United Friends of Highgate (UFOH) as the President and Chairman of the Board. An entrepreneur, author and son of Highgate, he has helped to improve the lives of many needy children as well as poor and neglected individuals. Under his tenure the organization has gone from early stage startup to a sustainable organization and is now the leading Community Development organization in Highgate. Reverend Seymour Hutchinson, Chairman for UFOH chapter in Highgate, Lorry and many members of both chapters have been recognized across multiple media and news outlets including The Observer, Daily Gleaner, Caribbean Today, Caribbean National Weekly for their contribution to the Highgate community and as leaders in cutting edge non-profit management.
Lorry’s service is one hundred percent voluntary, bringing over 25 years of leadership experience across both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. As a professional writer, he served as the Grant Coordinator for the Department of Community Development for the City of Miami. “It’s an honored to lead such a unique, dynamic and growing organization,” said Lorry. “You don’t have to be an expert in any field to feel the power of what we do. I have watched our community move from a clean lovable small town of less than three thousand residents, to a crammed uncared-for town with nearly ten thousand residents and no significant improvement in infrastructure, social amenities, education or community development.
“The Highgate Community has capable leaders starting with our Member of Parliament, Church leaders, Mayor, Municipal Corporation Councilor, Education leaders, Custos, leaders of the Social Development Commission, Business leaders and others within the community”. Lorry said, “Most of these personnel are already members of UFOH who are expected to form a team of planners for the community. It is this leadership along with the members of UFOH who I think will play a significant role in the development of the Highgate Community. I believe that as we build the community to help individuals experiencing poor health care, educational challenges and lack of employment opportunities, we will substantially lessen homelessness and criminal activities in Highgate and we will also act as a nucleus around which other communities will coalesce, making Jamaica a safer and better place to work live and play”.
Lorry attended the Highgate Continuation High School, Excelsior High School and the University of the West Indies. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degree (hon). He was admitted to membership in the prestigious Sigma Beta Delta, the International Honor Society in Business, Management and Administration.