7 News Belize

Unsung Heroes Have Their Praises Sung
posted (October 21, 2010)
By now, you all know about First Caribbean Bank's Local Unsung Heroes award…The program has been running since 2003 and seeks out Belizeans who are doing community work without expecting anything in return or recognition, or asking for media coverage.

Today the 2010 heroes were named; they are Nelson and Darnella Tyler and Dr. Ellsworth Grant. These Unsung Heroes, who were selected from among nine nominees, were presented with a donation of twelve thousand dollars towards their projects and causes.

These unsung heroes, as Local Coordinator of the programme Rosanna Villanueva, tells us are very deserving of this award:

Rosanna Villanueva, Local Coordinator Unsung Heroes Programme
"The scope of work that they do. The amount of people they assist the lives that they touch, the sacrifices that they made toward the cause. All that they had given up. The impact their work has on the community now and in the years to come."

Rosanna Villanueva, Local Coordinator Unsung Heroes Programme
"The Belize Christian Efforts Girls Home was established and license in 2004 by Mr. Tyler's parents; Millicent and Nelson Tyler Sr. It is located on pristine land in the Belize District and is set far enough away from Belize City to provide sanctuary for the girls housed there. The home is license for girls age 12-21 years and at the time of our visit there were 8 girls living there even though there is space for 16. Nelson and his wife Darnella visited the home on several occasions and then move there to assist his parents. During this time they came to appreciate the importance of the home and its meaning to the girls living there. The Tyler's run The Belize Christian Efforts Girls Home in the Belize District and it is through this endeavor that they were nominated as unsung heroes. This very soft spoken couple has become a lifeline of sorts for many young girls who literally have nowhere else to go."

Mr. Nelson Tyler, 2010 Local Unsung Hero
"The most satisfying thing is probably how the girls act. Before they came to the home they didn't know how to smile. Now they are laughing, they are joking, they are playing all the time; we can't get them to stop. They are very happy and I think for us that's really the most satisfying thing."

Mr. & Mrs. Nelson Tyler, 2010 Local Unsung Hero
"We are overwhelmed I still can't believe this is happening, it's really amazing because I know there are a lot of people that probably deserve this more than we do. So we are just amazed that this is happening to us."

Rosanna Villanueva, Local Coordinator Unsung Heroes Programme
"Our second finalist for our unsung heroes programme for Belize 2010 is Dr. Ellsworth Grant. Some of you may know of Dr. Grant and the Belize Cancer Center from television interviews and newscast. What you may not know however is the extent of his ongoing sacrifice and contribution to sustaining this center. The Belize Cancer began operating officially in 2007, but was the fruit of years of planning and research by Dr. Grant. Being a native Belizean Dr. Grant was searching for ways to help the many cancers sufferers at home. He completed his studies on oncology and he hematology in the United States and establish his private practice."

Delone Pascasio, CEO Belize Cancer Society
"But I think it couldn't happen to a more deserving individual, he is such a wonderful person at heart. He has open his heart, a lot of it we bear the expenses ourselves because we know what the challenges are financially for most of our families."

"Right now we are following about 296 patients. The cancer center staff has been marvelous. We couldn't have done this without them. Dr. Grant, I do know is my hero too, I am his cousin and when we first talk about it we both agreed that it was really time base upon where we were to start looking at what can we do for Belize that would make a difference in the lives of more people and we felt that because we were in the profession that we were; I do oncology, that my specialty and he being an hematologist and oncologist, we felt that we were at the point where we could share what we gain to a country we are very grateful for."

The two unsung heroes are now a part of the Regional Unsung Heroes Programme - the winners of which will be announced next month. Since 2003, a disproportionate number of the regional winners have been from Belize as Four Belizeans have walked away with the Title of Regional Unsung Heroes.

Home | Archives | Downloads/Podcasts | Advertise | Contact Us

7 News Belize