In a collection of sermons and essays authored by civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr in 1963, there is a section about the importance of altruism versus selfishness, which contained the following passage.

In a sense every day is judgement day, and we, through our deeds and words, our silence and speech, are constantly writing in the Book of Life.

Light has come into the world, and every man must decide whether he will walk in the light or creative altruism or the darkness of destructive selfishness. This is the judgement. Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’

Well, two American couples who have enjoyed the warmth, welcome and friendliness of the Jamaican people over their many holiday visits to the island answered that question in a most tangible way, much to the satisfaction of a number of charities in St Ann and St Mary.

Jane and Gene Saks from Winter Haven, Florida, and Alan and Josie Kline from Arizona, came up with the idea of hosting a charity golf tournament some 17 years ago, and on Sunday, it marked its 16th staging at the Sandal Golf and Country Club in Upton, St Mary.

Known as the Couples Resorts Ocho Rios Charity Golf Tournament, the event has raised in excess of J$26 million over the period to aid charities in the area, and those responsible are beaming with pride.

“We are very proud,” exclaimed Gene Saks at the end of Sunday’s 16th staging at Sandals Golf and Country Club. “As I explained to somebody today, it has become a passion to us, it is just something we do; I don’t even think of the work we do anymore because it is something we do and I look forward to it and it is rewarding to see the people here spending their money on a charity when they could just not spend it… because they are regular members of this golf club and here they are giving their money to charity along with the generous gifts from the Issa family.

“We give every single dollar from this event to charity and it is very nice.”

Jane was equally ecstatic. “It is amazing that Couples Resorts and the Issa family would give so much money towards a wonderful project that gives to people and their animals and we are very proud to have partnered with them…they supply everything.”

For the Sakses, married for over 45 years and who are now on their 84th visit to Jamaica, they never dreamt that this idea would have grown into a highly respected and sought-after annual event on the Jamaican golfing calendar.

“We first began with the Port Maria Hospital, that was our first charity, then the Swift-Purscell Boys’ Home,” declared Jane, who first visited the island on her honeymoon in 1971.

At the Port Maria Hospital they donated an X-ray machine which is being maintained.

“We came up with this idea with a couple from Arizona on the golf course here and he said the people of Jamaica, they have been so wonderful to us over the years, why don’t we do something for them, like have some kind of a fundraising event or something like that, and I was like, ‘that would be a wonderful idea’ and he said, ‘you do golf tournaments, don’t you?’ and I said yes, then I realised I had done only one before that for a Rotary Club in Florida, and then we decided that we are now going to do this international tournament here in Jamaica. We told our wives at the hotel and they thought that we were totally out of our minds, asking what we knew about running an international golf tournament, and we said not much, but are going to try it and to answer your question it is now 16 years later and it is one of the most rewarding things,” shared Gene.

The Charity Golf Tournament is the highlight of the Resorts, anniversary celebrations, and all proceeds raised go to local charities namely the Three Hills Primary School, the Hamilton Mountain Basic School and The Animal House.

The Three Hills Primary School received a total of US$33,000 in furniture, including desks and chairs for every classroom and for the teachers, from proceeds of the golf tournament. The organizers have also erected wash rooms, purchased a freezer and every year they provide a Christmas treat for the children. They recently repaved the playground area at a cost of J$1.3 million, and their current project is to provide an air-conditioned lunch room, which will be completed by the end of this month at a cost of J$1.5 million.

The Hamilton Mountain Basic School has an enrolment of 60 children ranging in ages three through to six years. It has received from Couples a new fridge, computer and printer and ceiling fans, and all exterior and interior walls have been painted. Annual Christmas treats are also provided. The entire school was recently retiled at a cost of $300,000, including class ooms, kitchen, bathrooms and library.

The organisers have also supported The Animal House for several years and donate $300,000 annually towards the upkeep and salaries. It is a non-profit organisation that operates a shelter for dogs and cats in Lydford, St Ann.

Whenever they get the chance the Sakses and the Klines visit the charities and they are scheduled to do so again today with a visit to the Three Hills Primary and The Animal House.

So with the Americans celebrating Martin Luther King Day with a public holiday yesterday, the Sakses and the Klines could not have been more satisfied knowing that they have indeed participated in tangible deeds to help others far away from the United States of America.

—Ian Burnett