JAMAICAN-BORN philanthropist and communications strategist Donette Chin-Loy Chang has called Canada home for decades, but says Jamaica has never left her heart. That enduring bond has now been recognised with the Order of Jamaica (OJ) for her lifelong contributions to education, philanthropy and community service.

However, for Chin-Loy Chang, the honour is not a celebration of individual achievement but of the many people who have stood beside her throughout a lifetime devoted to helping others. Although she has received numerous accolades, including the Order of Ontario earlier this year, she said the recognition from the country of her birth carries deeply personal significance because it was never something she expected or sought.

“When I got the call, I was really surprised and excited… I’m still excited. It’s a little bit overwhelming because it was unexpected… To get the Order of Jamaica it means that the land of my birth has recognised the work that I have done for years without even thinking about it, without bringing my head up, or without even expecting anything,” she said.

Rather than accepting the recognition as her own, Chin-Loy Chang said she views it as a tribute to the family, friends, volunteers, and colleagues who have shared in the work over the years.

“The recognition is really the work that has been done together with a number of committees and teams and volunteers. So this honour, I would like to dedicate to them because, you know, when you do something that is inspirational or that helps people, it’s really not just you doing it — it’s your family, it’s your friends, it’s your colleagues. So I stand on huge shoulders for this honour,” she said.

Among the initiatives closest to her heart is The University of the West Indies (UWI) Toronto Benefit Awards, for which she serves as a patron. Chin-Loy Chang said the annual fund-raiser has awarded about 1,500 scholarships over the past 17 years, helping Caribbean students pursue higher education. She has also spearheaded fund-raising efforts at Immaculate Conception High School and, as chancellor of Toronto Metropolitan University, has funded numerous scholarships and student initiatives, including a CAN$1-million gift to the institution’s Student Wellbeing Centre.

Yet Chin-Loy Chang insists philanthropy has never been about writing cheques.

She explained that while growing up she watched her parents demonstrate that kindness is measured by compassion, time, and personal involvement. One memory that has remained with her is seeing her father offer food and a second chance to a young man seeking to turn his life around.

“Philanthropy does not always mean money… A cheque is easy to write in many respects, and then you walk away. But it’s when you actually follow the money, and you volunteer, and you make sure that it’s going where you want it to go [that is what really counts],” she noted.

That philosophy has continued to guide her work long after leaving Jamaica. After Hurricane Melissa unleashed great damage to Jamaica western third last October, Chin-Loy Chang joined fellow Jamaican-Canadian Wes Hall in spearheading a Diaspora fund-raising campaign that raised CAN$2.5 million for relief efforts through three charities, saying she felt compelled to act because of her enduring love for the island.

“When Hurricane Melissa hit I was physically in pain. I just could not let go of it,” she told the Jamaica Observer last Thursday.

Although widely recognised for her philanthropy, Chin-Loy Chang’s professional journey began in journalism, a career she believes continues to shape the way she serves others. From her early days at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) to mentoring students and hosting Toronto Metropolitan University’s award-winning podcast, she said journalism taught her that service begins with truth and communication.

“Journalism is a means of giving information. The truth [and] my communication background have helped me to communicate or to reach out to people who otherwise may not have been mentored, so mentorship is also philanthropy,” she noted.

Her passion today is increasingly focused on young people, whom she describes as the world’s greatest source of hope despite growing global uncertainty. Rather than simply offering them advice, she believes the first responsibility of any leader is to listen.

“The first thing, I think, is that they want somebody to listen, so the first thing I do is listen… I ask them not to lose sight of the goal, to be kind. I tell them that community matters, family matters, knowing your history matters… and I can only give them hope through words and actions so I remind them to be bold, and keep moving,” she said.

Asked how she hopes to be remembered, Chin-Loy Chang returned to the lesson that first inspired her life’s work decades ago.

“My legacy must be about that I was able to help. I was able to help somebody get a better life and, by extension, a better world… My legacy should not stop. It should be carried on,” she said.

The Order of Jamaica, ranked fourth in the order of precedence, may be conferred upon any Jamaican citizen of outstanding distinction or upon any distinguished citizen of a country other than Jamaica. In the latter case the person is referred to as an honorary member. A member of the Order is styled “Honourable” and the motto of the Order is “For a covenant of the People”.