The Heart Foundation of Jamaica honours their Heroes of the Heart
July 11, 2007The Full Story
On July 10th at the Terra Nova Hotel, the Heart Foundation of Jamaica held its Breakfast Meeting to honour donors who have stepped up to the plate and donated over $50 Million to HFJ expansion initiative, which encompasses a wealth of new and improved programmes.
Additionally, the HFJ, used this forum as an opportunity to plea to the Jamaican society and businesses at large to contribute more to the prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases in Jamaica; which accounts for 40% of total deaths today.
While this topic cannot be emphasized enough, Dr. Hafeezul Mohammed, Consultant Cardiologist, presented on the current state of Heart Disease in Jamaica and was backed by Dr. Knox Hagley, Consultant Cardiologist and Chairman of the Heart Foundation of Jamaica.
Left to Right: Dr. Edward Chung, Consultant Cardiologist and Board member of the Heart Foundation of Jamaica, accepts a cheque from Mrs. Claudette Ashman, Company Secretary and Legal Officer, Guardian Life in the sum of $10 Million.
On the top of the list for HFJ is the purchase of its new building to house all services offered by the foundation. As well as to introduce to Jamaica, their first Cardiac Rehabilitation Centre.
In attendance were many corporate figures and diplomats, including Wayne Chen, CEO of Superplus food stores, Paul Nicolopulo, Deputy High Commissioner from the British High Commission, Mr. William Mahfood, CEO of the Wisynco Group of companies and many others.
Presentation of cheques came from Mr. Rae Barrett, CEO of National Health Fund, who donated over $30.5 Million, Mr. Patrick Hylton, Group Managing Director of NCB, donated $8.7 Million, Mrs. Claudette Ashman, Company Secretary and Legal Officer of Guardian Life, $10.5 Million and The National Housing Trust’s Mrs. Kalean Mills-Bellamy, Assistant General Manager of Legal, $1 Million. In attendance was also Mr. Zachary Harding, Director of Marketing at the Wisynco Group, who pledged support for the Heart Foundation of Jamaica and donated $7 Million.
However, the HFJ is still in need of some $30 Million to complete its expansion drive and is appealing to Jamaicans to become a Hero of the Heart by donating to The Foundation.