Christmas came early for some 24 organisations and institutions who are sharing in an $839,678 donation from the Ansa McAL Foundation.
At a ceremony at Tatil Building ion Maraval Road yesterday, foundation chairman A. Norman Sabga praised the groups for their contributions to society, especially helping those in need. He also lauded members of staff for their efforts in helping neighbouring countries recently ravaged by Hurricane Maria.
“The Ansa McAL Foundation, and also the Ansa McAl Group, try to do what we can for society. Apart from these grants, the Group and our staff members also rose to the occasion to help our Caribbean brothers and sisters. Some 6,000 strong staff members rose to the cause,” Sabga said.
He said five containers filled with foodstuff and other much-needed items were distributed to Caribbean countries.
Last week the Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Awards for Excellence announced four laureates for 2018: Arts and Letters—Prof Kei Miller, Poet, Novelist, Jamaica; Entrepreneurship—William Andrew Boyle, Guyana; Public and Civic Contributions—Chevaughn and Noel Joseph, T&T; Science and Technology—Dr Adesh Ramsubhag, Microbiologist, T&T.
The laureates were proposed by country nominating committees and selected by a regional panel. The Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Awards has been in existence since 2005.
The prizes are worth $500,000 each and laureates also receive a medal and citation at the awards ceremony which is expected to be held on May 5, next year, at a venue to be announced.
Sabga said each of the laureates had not only made valuable contributions to his or her homeland but had also shaped the region.
“Those awards give us tremendous hope for the region and we do have such great talent among us,” he said.
Sarah Elizabeth of the Holy Name Training Centre said the donation had come at a time when the facility is in need of refurbishment. The centre takes in underprivileged children, including those various homes, to teach them life skills so they are equipped for the world of work.
“Most of all we teach them to be independent so then they can take their rightful place in society. We also have children from the Children’s Authority and from homes throughout the country... once they are 15 and over.
“Right now our dormitory needs some repairs so we are definitely going to use the money for that so we can take in more children,” she said.
THROUGHOUT THE YEARS
The Ansa McAL Foundation has been in existence since 1993 and has donated several worthy causes in T&T. Among those who received grants yesterday were the Guardian Neediest Cases Fund, Rio Claro Heritage Fund, The Living Water Community, Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the University of Guyana, Holy Name Training Centre, Trinidad Theatre Workshop and the UWI.
Apart from Sabga, who is also the executive chairman of the Ansa McAL Group of Companies, the foundation includes Judy Chang, Ravindra Nath Maharaj, Diana Mahabir-Wyatt, Fr Ronald Mendes, Victor Mouttet, Linda Sabga-Hadeed and Nabeel Hadeed.