Thu | Mar 28, 2024

An inspiring ‘Women of Courage’ luncheon

Published:Sunday | March 17, 2019 | 12:00 AMJanet Silvera - Senior Gleaner Writer
Ashley Furniture Homestore’s Catherine Speare (right) presents an Ashley-branded chair to Scotiabank’s Deon Fraser-Walcott.
Sarah’s Children member Anna Taylor (left) presents the Woman of Courage Award 2019 to Eve for Life’s Monique McDonald, a survivor of sexual abuse.
From left: Dr Luz Longsworth, pro vice-chancellor and principal of The University of the West Indies (UWI) Open Campus; Inderia Adjudah, senior administrator, UWI Western Jamaica Campus; and Dorothy Overs, Longsworth’s mom.
The Western Mirror’s Sashane Shakes sparkled among the other Women of Courage during the Sarah’s Children first anniversary.
Hyatt Ziva & Zilara’s Antoneil Lewis (left) and Julianne McIntosh, brought down the house with their singing of ‘The Prayer’.
Rose Hall Development’s Angele Nunez (left), manager of Rose Hall Great House, and Latoya Lewis, tour guide, at the Sarah’s Children luncheon.
Island Doctors Concierge Wellness Services representatives (from left) Drs Sherridene Lee and Jacqueline Chambers, and their human resources director, Kimberly England.
The Hospiten team (from left) Nicky Wade, Khalia Shreeves and Valerie Campbell.
Sarah’s Children Foundation member Kareena Mahbubani (left) and her sister, Alpa Chuganey.
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A duet by Hyatt Ziva & Zilara’s Julianne McIntosh and Antoniel Lewis had the women who turned out for the Sarah’s Children Women of Courage luncheon last Thursday at the S Hotel in Montego Bay mesmerised.

The song of inspiration, titled The Prayer, evoked a rousing round of applause midway the event, which also marked the first anniversary of the charitable organisation, whose mandate is to see to the welfare of children and senior citizens.

Staged in collaboration with the S Hotel, the event, which was held in celebration of women on the eve of International Women’s Day, was oversubscribed, so there was not enough room to accommodate all; a few, regretfully, had to turn back.

But the succulent and delectable chicken breast, obviously prepared with love by S Hotel’s executive chef, Louis Matthews, and the amazing ocean view from the resort’s penthouse, were the most talked-about conversations of the afternoon.

Well, until keynote speaker Dr Luz Longsworth opened her mouth and gave the entire room hope. ‘Balancing for Better’, the Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of The University of the West Indies Open Campus, was courageous in her speech, inspiring in her stance and powerful in her delivery.

She shared the spotlight with author and sexual abuse survivor Monique McDonald, who was recognised as the Sarah’s Children 2019 Woman of Courage recipient.

It was an afternoon that saw the revolutionary doctors of Island Doctors Concierge Wellness Services, Jacqueline Chambers Roberts and Sherridene Lee committing $250,000 in service to the elderly and children who may need healthcare.

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com