7 students, 10 charitable organisations awarded at GBTI’s 2018 calendar launch

As the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) on Tuesday unveiled its calendar for the upcoming year, seven students, along with 10 charitable organisations, were awarded as part of its annual initiative.
Every year, GBTI singles out 10 non-profitable organisations that have been serving the poor and vulnerable throughout the country to which it makes a significant monetary donation in keeping with its corporate social responsibility.
The 10 Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to benefit this year are: Uncle

GBTI CEO Larry Nath, Public Relations and Marketing Manager Pamela Binda and Administration Manager Sean Noel pose with this year’s winners of the GBTI 2018 Calendar Art Competition

Eddie’s Home; The Salvation Army; Help and Shelter Crisis Service; Dharam Shala Home for the Poor for all Races; Guyana Red Cross Society; Guyana Society for the Blind; Artistes in Direct Support; Guyana Relief Council; the Guyana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA) and Food For The Poor.
Food For The Poor Public Relations Manager Wayne Hamilton, who accepted the donation on behalf of the organisation and who spoke for the receiving donor organisations, expressed his sincere gratitude to GBTI for its kind generosity to the organisations. He said it was donations like these which go a far way in helping provide much needed support for these organisations to keep doing what they were doing.
These presentations have evolved into an even more fulfilling occasion for GBTI,

This year’s representatives of the NGOs pose with GBTI’s Head of Credit, Shaleeza Shaw; Administration Manager Sean Noel and Public Relations and Marketing Manager Pamela Binda

given that the entity has now merged the handing over with the award ceremony to students who were adjudged winners of its annual calendar competition.
Addressing the gathering at the launch of the Bank’s 2018 calendar, Chief Executive Officer Larry Nath explained what kept these initiatives alive, year after year.
In doing so, he noted, “Many of us think that banks are only in the lending business. I think GBTI has changed that perception and at GBTI, we’re actually in the people business of helping our folks achieve their financial dreams.”
“The Bank is very connected to their communities and for this year alone would have contributed over $1 million to noteworthy charities and deserving causes,” Nath further detailed.
Echoing similar sentiments was the Senior Manager of Administration, Sean Noel.
Noel stated that, “Combining the launch of our annual 2018 almanac and our donations to charitable organisations sort of tells what we see in ourselves at GBTI as partners in the development of our country.”
Adding to that, he zoomed in on the calendar competition and highlighted the concept of this particular initiative.
“For many years, we have been doing this calendar competition that in a sense gives voice to young people, a space for us to hear their ideas, see some of their creativity and I believe that as parties in society, we must be able to give young people that opportunity,” the Senior Manager relayed.
Continuing on that note, GBTI Public Relations and Marketing Manager Pamela Binda outlined how the calendar competition idea was birthed.
Indicating that this annual undertaking was as a result of the aftermath of 911, Binda pointed out, “What can be described as a global catastrophe that touched the hearts of many no doubt touched the hearts of bankers sitting at GBTI. And this catapulted them to launch the very first calendar competition in 2001 which was focused on the topic: “If you had a chance to make a difference in this world, what would you do?”
With that, she went on to say, “GBTI since then had Guyanese people at heart and wanted to ensure that it resonated within the country that GBTI was here to make a difference and still is today in 2017.”
For the first time this year, GBTI opened the calendar competition to the wider public, a decision which was greeted with an overwhelming response as a total of 127 entries were submitted for the 2018 design.
Among that total were students ranging from age nine to 17, from across the country. The theme for this year’s depiction was: “Saving: the Key to a Brighter Future.”
Seven of the entries managed to make their way to the top of the list. Emerging as awardees at Tuesday’s ceremony were Aaron Gangadeen, Rasheed Franklin, Omawattie Ramnarain, Noel Sukhai, Siddharath Ramessar, Rena Marshall, and Azalyah Exeter.
GBTI expressed heartfelt gratitude to all of the children who sent in entries, and is looking forward to their participation in next year’s competition.