Milton McLean Tortola, British Virgin Islands, October 20th, 2009 - Mr Milton McLean, a man who has founded and managed several community initiatives in the BVI, was celebrated as the country's FirstCaribbean International Bank Unsung Hero 2009.
The Bank's management team hosted an awards ceremony at Maria's by the Sea last Friday to recognize Mr McLean's contributions to society. The event was the culmination of the local 2009 Unsung Heroes campaign.
The annual drive, which launched in April this year, invites the public to nominate individuals who go above and beyond the call of duty to improve the lives of others without expectation of gain or reward.
Speaking at the celebratory luncheon, Mr Maxim Pazos, head of corporate banking and country manager, commended Mr McLean on his achievements.
"Over the years, while many of us busied ourselves with daily routines benefiting our immediate circles - families, friends - he was behind the scenes, selflessly reaching out to others to enrich their lives and inspire," said Mr Pazos. "If we ever
needed one, Mr McLean is a reminder to FirstCaribbean that our decision to launch Unsung Heroes in 2003 was a wise one. Let there be no argument that each opportunity to honour a hero during the last six years, has added positive meaning to who we are as a Bank."
From the age of eighteen and for more than thirty year, Mr McLean has been combining his vocational skills as a teacher and his passion for basketball to champion the meaningful participation of youth in sports and in society. Tapping into personal time and resources and for no financial reward, he has founded, organized and managed a variety of successful social, mental and spiritual growth initiatives on Tortola.
In addition to founding and managing several junior league basketball teams, Mr McLean set up and ran the St Paul's Boy's Club from 1992 - 2006. The Club drew attendance from scores of boys aged seven to seventeen in the locality. Mr McLean organized swimming, boating and camping events along with the practical skills of administering First Aid and cooking. He orchestrated fund-raisers, and taught responsibility, leadership skills and confidence in speaking in front of peers and adults. He also started the Youths in Christ group for young parishioners of the St Paul's Church.
Mr McLean is the sole founder and organizer for the Sea Cow's Bay Basket Ball Club. Started in 1994, this free club is open to boys and girls aged nine to twelve and thirteen to fifteen from around Tortola. Mr McLean uses his own transportation to collect and drop off the children.
Mr McLean's most recent project is the implementation of a mentoring programme at his current teaching post at Lenora Delville Primary School. The aim is to increase the fathers' involvement in the lives of their children through interactive seminars and sporting activities.
Whether geographical or social, Mr McLean has provided a way to bring together different sectors and areas of the community: He has taken older youths to play basketball with the inmates at Her Majesty's Prison. Through his voluntary and tireless efforts in funding, organizing and hosting numerous inter-community and inter-island tournaments, Mr McLean connects schools and communities on Tortola, Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke.
Mr McLean, who was supported by family and friends at the luncheon, had not been expecting the nomination and was quick to acknowledge that the success of the initiatives could not have been achieved with out the assistance of others. Mr McLean went on to extend his thanks to everyone involved.
Mr McLean was one of several nominees whose causes were considered by a panel of six judges. The panel included external judges, Mr A.O. Shirley, Mr Rey O'Neal and Mrs Nadia George. To be eligible, the nominees have to be over the age of twenty one and be a Caribbean person or resident in the Caribbean for over five years. Further the individual or cause should have no or minimal publicity in the media but the cause could benefit from the exposure. The finalist is selected based on the level of personal sacrifice, length of service to the community and the impact and reach the cause(s) have had on the community.
The FirstCaribbean International Bank Unsung Heroes programme is run in all seventeen countries in which the bank operates. The programme seeks to encourage the spirit of volunteerism throughout the Caribbean. Unsung Heroes are sought at a country level and finalists go on to be considered for the title of regional 'Unsung Hero'. The local finalist's causes benefit from a $6,000 dollar gift from the bank. The regional winner will receive an award of $7,500 with two runners up receiving $5,000 each.
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