FirstCaribbean seeking Unsung Heroes
What makes a person a hero? Is it the fire-fighter who charges into a burning building because he thinks that there may be someone inside? Is it the teacher whose dedication to her students helps them not only learn about history and science, but also what it means to be a good person? Is it the mom who has to work two jobs to support her children and still makes the time to show her kids she loves them? There are many types of heroes in our world, and today FirstCaribbean International Bank announced its nine member team who will have the difficult task of selecting this year’s Belizean Unsung Heroes. Its’ a big responsibility because Belizeans have captured the title of regional Unsung Hero for as long as the programme has been in existence. Representatives of the bank told us more about the qualities they are looking for in this year’s finalists.
Irene Hernandez, Local Coordinator, Unsung Heroes Programme
?The Unsung Heroes Programme really looks for people who go above and beyond the call of duty to help people in the community. Less fortunate people whether it be in education, in the arts, in the medical field, that sort of thing. We really look for people that have been serving their communities for a long period of time. One of the criteria is that they need to be a Caribbean person. They have to have a cause that will benefit from the programme; also we ask that they participate in our P.R. program for the bank. And, of course, they have to be working hard with the community, helping people all around. The local heroes will receive U.S. five-thousand dollars towards their cause and all the money is put towards their cause, so it is not something for their personal gain. If they go on to the regional and they win, then they get an additional U.S. seven thousand five hundred dollars, that?s for the regional winner. There are also two runners up that are selected in the regional competition and they both receive an additional U.S. five thousand dollars. So it?s quite a bit of money that they are receiving to put towards their cause.?
Stephen Duncan, Country Manager, First Caribbean Int?l Bank, Belize
?We?d like people out there to nominate those Unsung Heroes, we don?t know everybody. Please nominate the people, please send in their names and don?t be afraid. We have a distinguished panel who is going to help us to assess and choose a winner. We just need the help of the public out there to nominate these people. Identify them for us and we will do the rest.?
If you are interested in nominating your local hero, you can visit any FirstCaribbean branch countrywide for nomination forms or visit www.firstcaribbean.com. Nominations close July twenty-eighth, local finalists will be announced in October and the name of the regional Unsung Hero will be revealed in November. The three Belizeans who were named Regional Unsung Hero in consecutive years are Gloria Edwards, Margaret Juan and Florence Dillett.
