In celebration of its 180th anniversary, financial services institution Sagicor set out at the beginning of 2021 to complete 180 random acts of kindness across the Caribbean in a year.
Team members from across the organisation’s southern Caribbean territories rallied together towards one common goal, bringing smiles to the faces of strangers, assisting in uplifting worthy causes, and donating to numerous charities across the region. By the end of December 2021, the team surpassed the target, performing a total of 192 acts of kindness, said a media release.
Acts of Kindness took various forms and ranged from monetary and in-kind gifts to donations of time and effort. They included distributing care packages to frontline workers, children's clothing and book drives.
[caption id="attachment_932397" align="alignnone" width="1024"] SEA kits were also distributed as part of the Sagicor team’s Acts of Kindness. In June, Sagicor Life Inc Employee of the Year 2020 Talia Simpson-Grant, right, handed over SEA kits to the principal of Laventille Girls Government Primary School, Patricia Thorington for her standard five students, at Sagicor’s Head Office in Port of Spain. -[/caption]
The team also used special occasions throughout the year to maximise on the group-wide charitable endeavour. During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, recipients benefited from gift certificates for complimentary breast examinations while on Mother’s Day, lucky mothers were received flowers and other treats.
The covid19 pandemic also presented several opportunities to give back, with many schools receiving donations of devices for online learning.
[caption id="attachment_932400" align="alignnone" width="1024"] The team also co-ordinated a clothing drive for children among several other initiatives. -[/caption]
Additionally, on World Kindness Day and International Day of Kindness, efforts were ramped up, with communities benefiting from several meal distribution programmes.
During the Christmas period, the teams mobilised further, using the initiative to spread much-needed Christmas joy and cheer. Clients, community organisations, and the public received Christmas presents, free tickets to events, Christmas hampers containing hams and cake, and Sagicor-branded items.
Sagicor’s president and CEO Robert Trestrail said the project was a symbol of gratitude since 180 years "is a significant milestone."
[caption id="attachment_932401" align="alignnone" width="891"] Sagicor president and CEO Robert Trestrail -[/caption]
"For almost two centuries, we have been operating in the Caribbean and we wanted to show appreciation to our Caribbean people for their trust and confidence in us over this time. What better way to do so than to give back to the very communities that have helped us prosper? And so it was our honour to be able to serve and give back in this way,” Trestrail said in the release.
He said the teams across the region thoroughly enjoyed fulfilling this initi
