Top from left to right: Omeko Glinton. Middle: Rev. Lindy Russell; Bottom from left to right Dr. Cecil Thompson. Frank Outten.
This father’s day weekend The Bahamas Diamond Eagle Foundation (BDEF) will host a one of a kind event on Saturday, highlighting eight men from the Grand Bahama community, who for more than a decade have demonstrated continued service and dedication to the lives of our youth.
Bridgette Farrington, Founder/ CEO BDEF shared the purpose of hosting the event.
“It is my distinct pleasure to introduce to the island of Grand Bahama, the Bahamas Diamond Eagle Foundation, whose purpose is to reignite our spirit of celebrating our men and fathers while inspiring and rebuilding their purpose as the men and leaders that God desires them to be.
“It has been a God given idea to launch a new honor system to help to recognize and celebrate the lives and work of positive, hardworking, visionary men who have quietly labored in the Grand Bahama community, working amongst our children and young people in various youth programs. Hence the birth of the ‘Diamond Eagle Youth Ambassador Award (DEY-AA),” said Farrington.
“The entire Island of Grand Bahama from East End to West End is invited to share in this special Pre-Father’s Day event under the patronage of Bishop Cardinal and Lady Minerva McIntosh with the theme, ‘There is still hope.’ This illustrious event will be held at the Grand Bahama Yacht Club on Saturday, June 18, at 7:00 p.m.,” noted Farrington.
“On that night we will honor and award eight men from Grand Bahama. They are Kevin Tomlinson, Director, Grand Bahama Youth Choir; Omeko Glinton, Youth Pastor, Knowledge is Power (KIP) Ministries; Fred Delancy, President, Total Education Center (TEC); Rev. Lindy Russell, Director, West Grand Bahama Youth Development Association; Ron Dames, Program Director, Junior Achievement (JA) Grand Bahama; Frank Outten, Founder, Frank’s Ice Cream Summer Bible Program; Darrin Rolle, President, Falcon’s Boys Club and Dr. Cecil Thompson, former Principal, Hawksbill High School.
The DEYAA, Farrington noted, is purposed to showcase the vision, strength dedication, commitment and unselfish sacrifices of deserving men who have labored many years building, character, leadership and love in our youth, and helping to build the very fabric of our families, communities and nation.
“In a time in our Bahamian society when so much negative is spoken about our men and what they are not doing, we chose Father’s Day weekend to celebrate men and fathers who are making tremendous contributions to not only their own families, but families throughout the length and breadth of this nation as they sacrifice greatly to mold the lives of our island’s children to help to build our country.
“This event is an extraordinary opportunity for us to be able to celebrate our men. We have seen and heard over the years they are not doing enough, so much negativity in our society in regards to our men. I believe this is something that God wants me to do to be able to uplift and rebuild the self worth of our men as we begin to celebrate their labor and their efforts with respect to our children.
“As women, we know that it is already tough, in raising children, when you find that you have a man that would step out of his own box, of his responsibilities of his own family and connect with young people, in helping to mold, shape and discipline them, building leaders for the nation. I believe it is so worthy of commendation. Farrington believes the event is one that will reconfirm who these men are and their value in our society,” she said.
“Without our men, where would we as women be? They carry the seed of righteousness and I believe that this community needs to embrace the fact that we need to learn to love each other again. As Bahamians, inherently, we seem to have lost our ability to love each other, in spite of our differences, difficulties and challenges.
“The BDEF has been established for the purpose of helping to celebrate, honor and recognize the work and the labor of love of our men. If these men have touched your lives, or your children’s lives, in any which way,” she added.
“I really encourage persons to come out and celebrate and say thank you to them for their efforts. We are looking forward to the event where each of these men, true visionaries and nation builders receive the first DEYAA.
“I am praying that this event will begin a tsunami of love and recognition that the work that we do as a people in this community. There are so many more that are working behind the scenes; I often remember the African proverb, it takes a village to raise a child.
“Grand Bahama knows that without the help of these organizations in this community, our children would be in harms way. I encourage Grand Bahama to support these men, they are looking to see the community give full support,” acknowledged Farrington.
Proceeds derived from the event with assist families in need throughout our community.
Honorees Glinton and Rolle shared what it meant to them to be honored in such a way.
Glinton stated, “I am overwhelmed by this honor. We do not do what we do for recognition but by receiving this award encourages me to keep doing what I am doing.”
Rolle commented, “I love to be able to support persons supporting young people. I do not believe that I have the ability to work with all and the others that are doing such a tremendous job working with the young people like Cecil Thompson, an educator who has been a mentor to all of us.
“As well as Frank Outten, Fred Delancy, a former educator at Eight Mile Rock High School and now running the center in Hawksbill, I am tremendously honored to be in the same category with those individuals,” noted Rolle.
By Jaimie Smith
Source: Freeport News/Guardian
