Merrill J Fernando Charitable Foundation

The Merrill J. Fernando Foundation was formed to fulfill our Founder’s desire to make his business a matter of human service. One of the region’s largest private charitable Foundations, it focuses on directly, efficiently and effectively delivering transformational impact to less fortunate communities, differently abled children and youth, while empowering women, youth and men with dignity through free education, vocational training, entrepreneurship, nutrition, provision of medical infrastructure, caring for the elderly and advocacy. Together with Dilmah Conservation the MJF Foundation connects with our belief that success is a blessing that must be shared. Merrill J. Fernando disrupted a tea industry that was captive to a colonial economic system. He devoted his life to tea, and overcame the obstacles to realizing his dream of a genuinely ethical tea, with faith in God and His Grace. A minimum 15% of the pretax profits of Dilmah Tea and our associate businesses funds the work of the Foundation.

Our Founder pledged to serve humanity through his business. So, a minimum 15% of Dilmah’s pretax profits benefit less fortunate people and nature.

Your cup of tea funds every initiative through Foundation touching different segments of the community, creating a ripple effect of kindness in society.

Our key projects and initiatives involve;

Improving Life in the Plantations Children and Youth Empowerment Education Reducing Inequality Enabling the Disabled Vocational Opportunities disABILITY Advocacy Improving Medical Infrastructure COVID Response Climate Action Environmental Sustainability Biodiversity Conservation Ecosystem Restoration Nature Education Ocean Conservation Corporate Advocacy Nature-based Solutions