Miss Gloria Proctor, lauded as a selfless and nurturing individual who gives her soul, exemplifies true altruism, and committed to teaching the game of tennis to her eager students, has been named as Anguilla’s Unsung Hero for 2012.
Ms Proctor very quietly takes time out every Wednesday for 2-3 hours to teach a sport to her young students who may otherwise never get a chance to learn.
Her commitment to the sport of tennis and to teaching the youngsters Free of Charge is now over 25 years.
In presenting Ms Proctor with the cheque for US$6,000 Country Head Ms Marie Rey said the “CIBC FirstCaribbean International Unsung Heroes programme represents one of the exceptional and positive community support initiatives in the Caribbean today”.
‘The theme ‘Enriching Our Communities Together’ demonstrates one of the many ways in which the bank is truly seeking to be a community partner and where we are committed to finding ways to better the lives of our neighbours”, Ms Rey said.
The money will be used by Ms Proctor to continue her tennis teaching programme.
While not present at the announcement programme due to her standing commitment to coaching over 40 youngsters in the game of tennis Ms Proctor said was surprised when she was told she was the winner of the 2012 Unsung Hero competition. Ms Proctor had previously been a finalist in the 2010 Unsung Hero competition.
In brief remarks, Minister of Social Development and Sports the Honourable Edison Baird commended CIBC FirstCaribbean for its commitment to recognising the contributions made to community development by ordinary citizens.
The Minister said the Unsung Heroes programme now in its 9th year celebrates the work of volunteers who make a difference. “Many times we overlook the good deeds that persons around us perform every day without seeking any reward or credit for themselves”, the Minister opined.
In offering congratulations, Minister Baird said the island was grateful for the contribution made and will continue to make by the Unsung Hero to the community. “It is people like you who make the world a better place by your commitment to your cause, your caring, and your generous spirit”, he commented.
While judges expressed some disappointment in the low number of entries this year the Chief Judge Mr Leonard Kentish said it means more work will have to be put into next years promotion of the event “to ensure that more persons in the community seek to recognise the work of those persons who are quietly working on individuals and young people in trying to focus them and to make them more productive members of our communities”.
Mr Kentish was himself awarded by CIBC FirstCaribbean Bank for his selfless contributions to the Unsung Heroes Programme in Anguilla since its inception some 9 years ago.
A number of past Unsung Heroes were among those in attendance at the ceremony held at the Italia Restaurant, CuisinArt Golf Resort and Spa,Rendezvous Bay.
The entry from Anguilla will be judged against others from around the region by a panel of distinguished Caribbean judges at CIBC FirstCaribbean’s Head Office in Barbados.
– Press Release
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
