JAMAICAN management consultant Dr Henley Morgan has become the first Caribbean person to be appointed to serve on the team charged with development of the United Way into a seamless global organisation.

United Way, the oldest and largest voluntary/charitable organisation of its type in the United States, will be drawing on Dr Morgan’s knowledge of globalisation and social issues such as the Millennium Development goals.

“We would like to invite you to join a small group of outstanding leaders that will drive and shape the creation of a global United Way system and organisation,” said the letter of appointment to Morgan, who also writes a regular column in the Observer.

The letter was signed by chairman of the boards of United Way International, United Way of America and United Way of Canada.

United Way was incorporated in Jamaica in January 1985 and since then, over $400 million has been raised and disbursed to more than 4,000 agencies, institutions and projects engaged in poverty eradication, people empowerment and community development, according to a release.

“This appointment is significant not just on an individual, but on an organisation and national level. I have every confidence that Dr Morgan’s contribution will be as beneficial to the United Way worldwide movement as it has been to the local community,” local board chairman, Alvaro Casserly of Morgan’s appointment.