SAGICOR Foundation has copped the first-place prize for the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) Jamaica Award of Excellence for Civic Leadership, while Sagicor Group Jamaica took home second place in the Corporate Social Responsibility category. The awards were presented during the AMCHAM Jamaica Awards Banquet on October 18 at the Jamaica Pegasus.

Sagicor Foundation was among five nominees in the category of civic leadership, and won the award in the large foundation category, while Sagicor Group was nominated along with five other companies.

Ingrid Card, executive director of Sagicor Foundation and vice -president, group marketing, Sagicor Group Jamaica, was ecstatic when the announcements were made.

“We are honoured and proud to have been recognised by AMCHAM with these awards,” she said. She noted how important corporate social responsibility is for Sagicor and how volunteerism forms a major part of the company’s culture.

“Giving back is a part of our DNA at Sagicor and it’s just a humbling feeling when other organisations recognise you for your efforts,” she added.

Sagicor Foundation has a number of programmes it undertakes annually, which are particularly focused in the areas of health and education. The Sigma Run, which will celebrate its 20th year in 2018, has raised over $200m for numerous children and health-related charities over the years, providing much-needed help for the health sector and some of the country’s hospitals.

The Sagicor scholarship programme, which offers five-year scholarships to GSAT students entering secondary school, as well as tertiary scholarships to seven institutions across the island, is one of the major education initiatives of the foundation. Another education-driven programme is the Sagicor Foundation Adopt-A-School programme, which focuses primarily on the development of basic schools across the island. In addition to these programmes, the foundation engages in numerous activities throughout the year for the benefit of youth and national development.