This morning more than 27,000 people embraced Sagicor Jamaica’s most noble effort, the 2024 Sagicor Sigma Corporate Run, which aims to raise at least $100 million to help Savanna-la-Mar Public General Hospital, National Chest Hospital, and Danny Williams School for the Deaf.

That these three institutions provide vital health and educational services to the Jamaican people is beyond question, and the fact that banking and insurance entity Sagicor saw it fit to assist them is most commendable.

But that is what we have come to expect from Sagicor, a company that has demonstrated, over the years, an unwavering commitment to Jamaica and the well-being of our people.

Anyone who doubts that commitment need only look at the list of beneficiaries of the Sigma Run over the past 26 years: Jamaica Foundation for Cardiac Disease; Sophie’s Place; Mustard Seed Communities; Bustamante Hospital for Children; University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) Sickle Cell Unit; Sir John Golding Rehabilitation Centre; UHWI Leukaemia CARE; National
Blood Transfusion Service; UHWI Labour Ward; Jamaica Aids Support for Life; renal units of Cornwall Regional, University, and Kingston Public hospitals; paediatric wards of Spanish Town, May Pen, Victoria Jubilee, Savanna-la-Mar, Mandeville, and Cornwall Regional hospitals; Children with Disabilities at Sir John Golding Centre; Jamaica Society for the Blind; Jamaica Association for the Deaf; Victoria Jubilee Hospital Neonatal Care Unit; Chain of Hope; Jamaica National Children’s Home; Best Care Lodge; The Sickle Cell Trust in Mandeville; Special Care Nursery at UHWI; Jamaica Kidney Kids Foundation; Cornwall Regional Hospital Neonatal Unit; Jamaica Cancer Society; Black River Hospital Paediatric Unit; children with cancer across the island; Bethlehem Home for Abandoned Children; Spanish Town Hospital Special Care Unit; Mandeville Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; St Christopher’s School for the Deaf; May Pen Hospital Neonatal Unit; Lupus Foundation; Diabetes Association of Jamaica; Savanna-la-Mar Hospital Maternity Ward; Clifton Boys’ Home; Bustamante Hospital for Children Special Care Nursery; Annotto Bay Hospital; Port Antonio Hospital; Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts; and UHWI Paediatric Unit.

It’s a long and impressive list of which Sagicor must be extremely proud and for which the company should be highly commended.

Add to that the fact that over the years Sagicor, through this event, has managed to raise more than $650 million to help these beneficiaries and you get a better understanding of the underpinning philosophy of nation-building that drives this company.

We are indeed touched by the decision to dedicate this year’s run to the memory of Mr R Danny Williams, the founder of Life of Jamaica which became Sagicor Jamaica. Mr Williams served as chairman of Sagicor Foundation, which sponsors the Sigma Run and continues to play a major role in improving people’s lives.

Mr Williams, who passed last year, was a patriot of the highest order, moulding Sagicor into a great corporate citizen deeply committed to improving people’s lives through philanthropy and volunteer service.

Mr Christopher Zacca, the president and CEO of Sagicor Group Jamaica, was spot on when, on revealing that this year’s event is named Sagicor Sigma Honour Run, he said: “Danny is a giant in Jamaica and his life of philanthropy and giving back is unquestionably one of the biggest in Jamaica.”

Congrats, Sagicor, Jamaica continues to grow and benefit from your loyalty and commitment.