Bank rewards three local unsung heroes

THREE Jamaicans who have been making a positive contribution to their communities in the area of social and human development were recently presented with First Caribbean International Bank's 2009 Unsung Heroes Award.

The awardees - Claudia Williams, retired principal of Drapers All-Age in Portland and a foster mother; Father Paul Walsh, founder of St Anthony's Children's Home in Barbican, St Andrew; and Reverend Teddy Jones of Shalom Missionary Church in Grants Pen, Kingston 8 - were recognised at a function held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston.

Williams, a resident of Fair Prospect in Portland, was recognised for educating young children in her community for more than four decades and for providing a home to 15 foster children.

Father Walsh was given the award for his efforts in raising, nurturing and mentoring more than 200 children, while Rev Jones was acknowledged for his role in the many different outreach programmes offered by his church. The programmes, geared at transforming the lives of residents in inner-city communities, includes a soup kitchen for the elderly, youth summer camps and monthly distribution of clothes and grocery to the needy.

The awardees, who were selected from a batch of 27 nominees islandwide, were each presented with a plaque, a certificate of commendation, personal gifts and US$6,000 to further their causes.

Father Walsh was, however, absent from the ceremony and his award was collected by Ewan Harvey and Joy MacCurvin, administrators at St Anthony's Children's Home.

The awardees will now go on to vie for the top spot in the Caribbean Regional Unsung Heroes Competition.

"I am very excited and I think it's a very good gesture, in that they have identified us and it will motivate others to do good as well," said Williams. She was instrumental in raising funds for the construction of the Long Bay Post Office in Portland and is currently in the process of raising money for the construction of another post office in Priestman's River in the parish.

Said Rev Jones: "I am humbled and thrilled but honoured to know that this award is not so much for me but for the people of Grants Pen who cause me to wake up every day, and for the young people who I serve everywhere I go across the nation."

Clovis Metcalfe, managing director of FirstCaribbean Bank (Jamaica) Limited congratulated the local winners and said he was impressed with Jamaica's finalists in the 2009 Unsung Heroes Competition, whose collective efforts have benefited hundreds across Jamaica and the region.

Metcalfe said the Unsung Heroes programme has over the years highlighted young heroes who have worked with street boys in remedial programmes, provided meals from their own limited resources for the less fortunate, refurbished homes and distributed medication to the elderly.

The aim of the programme is to reward people, who have not been recognised nationally, for their good deeds and provide them with financial assistance to support their works.

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