Bethlehem Home for Abandoned Children receives $20 million in proceeds from Sagicor Sigma Run 2017

Sagicor Group Jamaica last week officially handed over numerous items worth more than $20 million to the Father Ho Lung-founded Bethlehem Home for Abandoned Children. The proceeds are from the $50.5 million raised in last year's 19th staging of the Sagicor Sigma Corporate Run.

Sagicor provided the home with numerous upgrades and necessities to improve the overall living condition and environment for the more than 20 occupants. The proceeds include a 15-seater bus to assist with transportation needs, a commercial generator, two 2,000-gallon water tanks, installation of a box drain, provision of storage cupboards for the children, a commercial stove, laundry dryer and blender, a year's worth of groceries, installation of murals, and new signage for the home.

Speaking during the handover event, executive vice-president of individual life insurance at Sagicor, Mark Chisholm, reiterated the company's commitment to giving back and the various initiatives undertaken by Sagicor Foundation to help improve the lives of people in the communities it serves.

Chisholm noted: "As a socially responsible organisation, we are keen on playing our part in contributing to the overall welfare of our country, and we are cognisant of the important role children's homes play in caring for the well-being of some of our vulnerable children."

Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton lauded Sagicor for its contribution to nation building, calling for more Jamaicans to participate in the company's annual charity run and noting that he participated this year at the 20th staging and was impressed with the overwhelming support.

The Sagicor Sigma Corporate Runhas has raised more than $300 million for some 30 charities since its inception in 1999. The annual road race event is staged to increase awareness of institutions that care for children while raising much-needed funds to assist their programmes.

The Sigma Run was designed to support and strengthen healthcare in keeping with Sagicor's mandate to improve the lives of persons in the communities in which it operates.