GoodHeart | Sterling’s 25th anniversary brings golf, giving together

Golf brought together a mix of business leaders, sporting personalities and supporters at Caymanas Golf Club last Saturday, but the day’s focus extended beyond the fairways. As Sterling Asset Management Ltd. celebrated its 25th anniversary with an invitational tournament, the event raised $270,000 for Maxfield Park Children’s Home and contributed $250,000 to Calabar High School’s library fund.

The tournament opened with Charles Ross, president and CEO of Sterling Asset Management Ltd., taking the first tee shot on the 1st hole. He was partnered with Major Desmon Brown in a group that included Mark Newnham and Chad Puryear, managing director at Raymond James & Associates, a part sponsor of the tournament.

Seventy-two golfers, competing in 36 teams, followed from an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start, with participants including Stephen Murad, chief executive officer of Digicel Group; Dave Cameron, former president of Cricket West Indies; Jodi Munn-Barrow, one of Jamaica’s top female golfers; and father-and-son duo, Arthur and Declan Blackwood.

While the competition brought the participants together, the tournament also provided an opportunity to support two institutions serving young Jamaicans.

The fundraising began with the sale of mulligans at $3,000 each, with all proceeds going to Maxfield Park Children’s Home. Sterling matched the amount raised, bringing the contribution to $270,000. Michelle Valentine, assistant vice president, marketing and communications at Sterling Asset Management, informed Renae Tuckett-Palmer, general manager of the home, of the combined donation.

Calabar High School’s library fund also received $250,000, with Sterling contributing $10,000 for each year it has been in operation. The donation held personal significance for Ross, a Calabar old boy, and was accepted by the school’s principal, Sian Mahay Wilson.

Addressing guests, Ross reflected on the relationships the company has built with clients over its 25 years, noting that some of those relationships have extended across generations.

“Many of our clients today are the children and grandchildren of clients who first started doing business with us. Wealth is built, and it’s passed on. That’s why this afternoon, we’re also thinking about the next generation,” he said.

Looking back to 2001, Ross recalled that Sterling opened its doors while Jamaica was still recovering from the financial crisis of the 1990s.

“Many families had watched their savings evaporate due to no fault of their own,” he said. “We became the first institution in Jamaica to offer US dollar-denominated investments exclusively, so that Jamaicans could protect what they’d worked for and help it to grow with confidence. Twenty-five years later, that’s still our purpose.”

He added that Sterling now manages more than half a billion US dollars on behalf of its clients.

With tournament director Peter Lindo serving as master of ceremonies, the prize-giving followed the submission of scorecards. Wayne Chai Chong and Winston Watson took the two-person scramble title with a net score of 60.175, ahead of Debbie Newnham and John O’Donoghue, who finished second with 62, and Mark Newnham and Chad Puryear, who placed third with 62.25.

Ross presented the winners with their trophies, while Valentine presented the second-place prize. Anna-Joy Tibby-Bell, assistant vice-president, personal financial planning, presented the third-place award.

Toni-Ann Neita-Elliott, vice-president, sales and marketing, presented the closest-to-the-pin prizes across the four par 3s. The recipients were Dave Cameron on hole 3, Dennis Barnett on hole 8, Radcliff Knibbs on hole 10 and Mark Newnham on hole 17. Debbie Newnham also made two trips to collect prizes, receiving her own second-place award and accepting both of Mark Newnham’s prizes.

The tournament was among the activities marking Sterling’s 25th anniversary, alongside other sporting events on the company’s calendar, including the Rangers Sporting Clay Championship and the Sir Henry Morgan Anglers Association Annual Marlin Tournament.

goodheart@gleanerjm.com