Last Sunday the Jamaica Observer presented the 2016 Business Leader Award. This year’s focus was corporate philanthropy and it was indeed uplifting to hear the achievements of the eight nominees.

We can now declare 2016 “The Year of Butch Hendrickson”. It is due reward for a captain of industry who has never sought to promote himself, but instead has invested millions in the promotion of others. His Bold Ones of Manufacturing series have empowered over 30 small manufacturers who have ascended to new heights. His generous Crayons Count programme has evolved into the Little Leaders Programme — an islandwide project in collaboration with the Ministry of Education to promote not only literacy and numeracy, but also critical thinking.

His ‘Jamaican Made Christmas’ had the Jamaica Pegasus ballroom abuzz for the second year, with small and micro businesses participating free of charge and enjoying booming sales beyond their expectations. His close alliance with that inspiring philanthropist Glen Christian, and the quiet giver Melanie Subratie, has resulted in that sparkling model, the Union Gardens Infant School.

The other outstanding nominees sprang to their feet at the announcement of “Butch” Hendrickson’s name. They included Digicel Chairman Denis O’Brien, who remarked that this award could not be given to a more deserving person. With the Hummingbird Award for International Philanthropy presented by the American Friends of Jamaica in October, the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) Hall of Fame induction later that month, and now the Jamaica Observer Business Leader Award for Corporate Philanthropy, we can say that “Butch Hendrickson” is being acknowledged finally for his many years of silent support of myriad causes.

Sister Mary Benedict Chung, founder of the Laws Street Trade Training Centre, has averred that she does not know how her institution, which supports so many in downtown Kingston, could have survived without the kindness of Hendrickson.

“Giving back is both a passion and a mission,” he noted. “It is a personal choice to which I am firmly committed, because I believe that it is simply the right thing to do. And my National family knows my mantra: Make profit, because I am going to give it away.”

He continued: “At National, we do not regard our passion to give back as an incidental by-product of our business it is the core value of our business. It is what gives purpose and meaning to our productivity and success. We know that if you feel right about what you do; if you feel inspired and motivated by what you do, then you must be doing the right thing.”

Hendrickson shared the award with his team: “None of our philanthropy would be possible without our team’s determination to excel, not only in terms of productivity, but in attitude, social awareness and loyalty. And so, to them, and our customers, this recognition is really yours, and I humbly accept it on your behalf.”

We salute this phenomenal Jamaican whose footsteps we should try to follow, even as he followed those of his pioneering parents, Karl and Nell Hendrickson.

DENNIS LALOR’S CLARION CALL

Business leader Dennis Lalor has sounded the call for integrity and commitment. The PSOJ hall of famer gave us a first-hand account of Jamaica’s recent economic history at the 40th anniversary luncheon of the PSOJ held last Thursday. He described the downturn in the economy towards the end of the 60s as “the rot of ages”, one that left Jamaica’s economy limping from administration to administration.

After the creation of the PSOJ in 1986, there was intensive dialogue with Government officials as they discussed a way out of Jamaica’s economic slump. Lalor’s PSOJ presidency coincided with the second Manley Administration of 1989. “What is not publicly known,” he said, “is that a few of us had established a joint PSOJ-PNP (People’s National Party) working group, while the PNP was in Opposition… a similar initiative was started with the [then] JLP (Jamaica Labour Party) Government, but the constraint of government inhibited progress.”

“In fact,” he continued, “the PNP 1989 manifesto included much of these agreed policy positions reflecting the shift, or ‘evolution’ as Prime Minister Manley would describe it.”

This evolution saw the liberalisation of the country’s foreign exchange regime, as the former had resulted in “the corruption and illegality of the public and private sectors”. He noted that Prime Minister Manley saw the benefit of his Government’s relationship with the PSOJ, and included them in his first meeting with President Bush in 1991, “to demonstrate his rightward political shift… However Mr Manley’s deteriorating health intervened and the shared policy vision gradually faded, followed by a crisis in the financial sector”.

Lalor’s account of the extensive, data-driven, voluntary activity of Jamaica’s finest business minds indicates the unremitting focus of our private sector leaders on Jamaica’s economic well-being. It grieves me that PNP representatives were absent from the signing of the partnership agreement last week because it contained the word ‘prosperity’. Social media lit up with folks asking if we should desist from wishing each other “a prosperous new year” for fear of being labelled.

Dennis Lalor’s contribution to nation building has seen the steady growth of his ICWI insurance company, his leadership of several other private and public sector organisations, and his King’s House restoration initiative. He closed his presentation with a clarion call: “It is never too late. And, as the country moves forward with its growth agenda, it would be advantageous to also embark on a moral reawakening, stressing respect for law and order, life and property; commitment to each other, community and country; and, above all, being able to distinguish between right and wrong, and the determination to do the right thing.”

We use this opportunity to applaud the PSOJ presidency of William Mahfood — one of the kindest, wisest Jamaicans I know — to congratulate the new president, the innovative P B Scott; and to commend the great work of the PSOJ team under the keen leadership of Dennis Chung. Happy 40th anniversary!

SOVEREIGN CENTRE’S GIFT TO SENIORS

You can only imagine the delight of the team at the Caribbean Community of Retired Persons when Errol Champagnie, consultant to the Loshusan family and Sovereign Centre, called to offer us a free store for the month of December. This has enabled our members, most of them retired, to turn their talents into earnings. Therefore, all the products being offered in the store are made in Jamaica.

Several young professionals have also visited to purchase membership and low-cost health insurance for their parents. This year we passed the 2,000-membership mark, and we look forward to taking this to a level where we can become a self-sufficient social enterprise.

PM AT CVSS AWARDS

Prime Minister Andrew Holness lauded the outstanding volunteers at the Council for Voluntary Social Services Annual Awards last Thursday, taking the time to meet and greet each of the over 300 guests. The Digicel Foundation team was delighted to have been awarded Non-Profit of the Year. Next week, I will give further account of this rich experience.

lowriechin@aim.com

www.lowrie-chin.blogspot.com