The Sandy Lane Charitable Trust (SLCT) was formally presented with the Humanitarian Award at its Annual Golf & Gala Event held at The Country Club at Sandy Lane on January 21.
The Prime Minister, The Honourable Mia Amor Mottley, was on hand to officially present the award to Trustees Phillipa Challis, John Lodge and Julian Sacher. During a heartfelt speech, the Prime Minister commended the Grand Patron of the Trust, Mr. Derrick Smith, as well as the other trustees for their steadfast support to the people of Barbados throughout the pandemic.
She said “I am here to say thank you on behalf of a grateful nation for the continued work, for the continued spirit of giving, and the actual giving during what came to be regarded as the most difficult moment this country has faced since we became a nation.”
The Trust originally received the momentous accolade in acknowledgement for over BBD$6 million dollars generously donated by the SLCT in supermarket vouchers in their Feed a Family Programme. The Trust initially committed BBD$3 million dollars in 2020 to provide immediate relief to vulnerable
families affected by the pandemic and continued its sizable contribution with an additional BBS$3 million dollars from its emergency relief funds for additional vouchers to help with the increasing number of
families requiring assistance during the prolonged crisis.
The Prime Minister also spoke of the unwavering dedication the Trust has shown to children in need since its inception, characterising the organisation as one which “for the last 18 years has meant the difference between life and death, and has meant the difference in the quality of life for so many thousands of Barbadian children”.
In addition to the presentation of the Humanitarian Award, the fund-raising gala, held principally to raise funds to support the SLCT’s primary vision of “helping the underprivileged children of Barbados”, succeeded in raising significant donations from its donors through its live and silent auctions on the night.
All proceeds raised at the gala will go toward its ongoing programmes and causes, including The Sunshine Early Stimulation Centre and the John Payne School for Exceptional Children, The World Pediatric Project Orthopaedic Missions and Cardiac Missions, its Healthy Hearing Mission, and several of its community outreach programmes.
The Sandy Lane Charitable Trust was established in 2006 and exists to support disadvantaged children in need. This includes the provision of facilities, training, health care and general welfare support for both children and their families. The Trust operates with no expenses or salaries, thereby ensuring that every dollar donated goes towards providing for children in need.
The trust would like to thank the donors whose contributions make a world of difference, and the owners of Sandy Lane Hotel for their incredible generosity in supporting its mission, programmes and causes to further the development of underprivileged children in Barbados.
(PR)
