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Twenty-five years of United Way

Published:Friday | September 17, 2010 | 12:00 AM
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Avis Henriques (left) has a warm greeting for Winsome Wilkins as Alvaro Casserly (second left) and Noel DaCosta look on.
Former United States' Ambassador Sue Cobb (left) and Jean Casserly (centre) greet Teresa Hall Bartels.
Allan Barnes of Red Stripe (left) greets Noel DaCosta as Alvaro Casserly's attention is drawn elsewhere.
The lovely Jean Lowrie-Chin (left) is greeted by Alvaro Casserly (second right) as Marcia Forbes and Noel DaCosta look on.
From left: Group managing director of the National Commercial Bank, Patrick Hylton, Stephen Facey and Courtney Campbell, head of First Global Bank, listen as businessman Elon Beckford makes a point. - photos by winston sill/freelance photographer
From left: Dr Robert Chen shares the spotlight with businesswoman Thalia Lyn and her husband, retired airline captain, Michael Lyn. - Contributed
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"We are here to use our talents to reach out and serve others, to elevate them and provide better opportunities for everyone." These were the sentiments of Theresa Hall Bartels, president of United Way International and senior vice-president of United Way Worldwide, as she addressed the 25th anniversary banquet of United Way at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel on Tuesday night.

Bartels congratulated the stalwarts who had led and served United Way from its inception, and urged members to continue to create stronger, safer, sustainable communities, and focus on making the next 25 years a time of transformation.

She reminded guests that our biggest resources are our "strong faith-based organisations and people, and these can be used to work with each other to unleash the assets that can solve many of our problems."

Noting some of the political and economic problems of the times, Bartels said, however, that these challenges provide opportunities to volunteer, give and advocate on behalf those in need. She stressed the importance of investing in women who always prioritised the education of their children. She said that if we got the people issues right, then we would be able to get the world right.

Several Awardees

A number of awards were presented to members of the United Way of Jamaica and corporate entities for 25 years of service. Among them were: Winsome Wilkins, Joan Brown, Daisy Coke, Larklin Hall, Hermione McKenzie, Elon Beckford, Pearl Earle, Reverend Raymond Coke, Sue Cobb, Jamalco, Sherwin Williams, The Victoria Mutual Building Society, GraceKennedy Limited, National Commercial Bank and the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service.

The ceremony was humorously presided over by master of ceremonies R. Danny Williams. Paulette Bellamy and Trio Bella kept things alive with delightful musical renditions and the Right Reverend Dr Robert Thompson, Bishop of Kingston, gave the invocation.