Tuesday, August 11, 2020

NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2020 3 IT IS a joy and privilege to be patron for the Optimist Club of Kingston. I respect and admire your dedication to the nurturing and grooming of our nation’s youth. It is an immeas- urable work that cannot be quan- tified by time or money. Children hold a special place inmy heart, and I am always warmed by their free spirit, honesty, curiosity, warmth, and sense of wonder. Children are the future of this country, and it is our responsibility to take good care of them and nurture them to the best of our ability. As such, it has givenme profound pleasure to partner with your or- ganisation over the years, our most recent project being the handover ceremony at the Jamaica House Basic School. Nelson Mandela said: “There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.” It is important that we affirm them, teach them well, and encourage them to become the best version of themselves. As the Optimist Club celebrates its 40th anniversary, I wish to convey my deepest respect and thanks to you for decades of selfless service; for providing hope and positive vi- sion; and for bringing out the best in our youth, our communities, and ourselves. It is a labour of love, and I am very proud of you and your accomplishments. I know that there are challenges, many of which have been further amplified by the pandemic that is COVID-19, however, I wish to en- courage you to stay true to your course and continue to exemplify the message of hope. Not only should we all “… look at the sunny side of everything and make [our] optimism come true”, but also pool our collective resources to sup- port voluntary-based clubs such as yours. As the Optimist Club continues to make a world of difference in the lives of children all across Jamaica, I encourage you to continue to pour into a nation that is grateful for your service. Congratulations and happy 40th anniversary! LADY PATRICIA ALLEN Patron of the Optimist Club of Kingston An immeasurable work Message OPTIMIST CLUB OF KINGSTON 40TH ANNIVERSARY