BROTHERS Robert and Mark White, founders of Sanmerna Paper Products Limited and the Sanmerna Foundation, were honored Friday by the American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ) in the United States for their humanitarian missions on the island that have helped improve and save the lives of many Jamaicans.

The brothers received the International Humanitarian Award at the AFJ Hummingbird Gala held at the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan, New York.

AFJ has also recognized and presented awards to renowned singer, songwriter, model and actress Grace Jones, as well as Vanessa Noel, who is a designer and founder of Vanessa Noel Shoes. Both Jones and Noel were honored with the International Achievement Award.

Robert, who is the CEO of the paper products company and his philanthropic foundation, exuded pride to receive recognition from a prestigious organization like AFJ for always being willing to lend a helping hand to the less fortunate.

He was especially proud of the work he and his brother were doing, using their network and profits from their business to help those less fortunate, as they both grew up very poor.

Sanmerna Paper Products was founded 21 years ago, while it launched its foundation in 2015.

“We are very happy to receive this award. Since the day my brother and I started the foundation, we don’t do what we do to get any recognition, we just do it from the heart. What we do is try to give people hope. When you can give people hope, it’s a blessing. The Sanmerna Foundation has offered a lot of scholarships to individuals. We also help a lot of people with medical equipment and medical bills. We do a lot to help young entrepreneurs start their own business.

“It was something we continued to do until we expanded to help burn victims. We also focus on peace. In areas where there is war, we always bring activities like football competitions to allow people to come together and reduce crime. We also run beauty pageants in volatile communities like Waterhouse and Hannah Town. After the Hannah Town pageant, I sent the first runner-up and runner-up on a work program in the US (United States) and everything is going well,” Robert told the Jamaica Observer following the awards ceremony.

“It’s an honor. I’m sorry my mom wasn’t here to see us receive this award, but I know she’s watching from above. We do all this for mom and dad. Let me tell you something, my brother and I didn’t find it easy. I had hard times.

“My brother and I had a hard time and if we had to talk about it, we would keep talking and talking. There are times when I was going to school and the bottom of my shoe, which had a hole in it, I had to put a piece of cardboard over that hole. When it rained, I put on make-up because my shoes were coming off,” added Robert.

He explained that his brother planted callaloo, which he sold to make ends meet and said the memories of the struggles they faced as children is what makes it easy for them when they decide to give back to the poor.

Meanwhile, Mark encouraged people to always seek to lend a helping hand to those in need.

“Don’t think about the amount. Whatever you can do to help someone, make a difference in their life. We do a lot of back to school giving, helping disabled children and also painting the Victoria Jubilee Hospital. We go above and beyond our scope to help burn victims beyond what we can sometimes afford. What we do is look for sponsors for them and send them abroad to continue their treatment,” Mark explained.

Very proud of the brothers’ success and philanthropic work was former US Ambassador to Jamaica Pamela Bridgewater, who is a member of AFJ’s board of directors.

“Tonight is a personal pleasure and honor for me, as I consider Robert my son. When I met him, he was starting the business with his brother and the business grew, but not only did the business grow, so did his heart for humanity and fellow Jamaicans. I encouraged them and they took the ball and ran with it. They have made positive changes in the lives of so many Jamaicans and I am proud and honored,” said Bridgewater.

“The International Humanitarian Aid Award is given to people who have done philanthropic work in their communities and changed lives. What Robert, Mark and the Sanmerna Foundation have done for burn victims in particular, we find so noteworthy. I think it is also worth noting that the government is trying to build a decent hospital for burn victims in Jamaica. We can attribute it all to Sanmerna’s work,” added Bridgewater.

AFJ is a 40-year-old organization that was founded by former US Ambassador to Jamaica, the late Glen Holden. The following ambassadors to Jamaica became members of the organization after completing their mandate on the island.

Bridgewater said she is proud to be part of the team that continues the legacy.

“American Friends of Jamaica is the only organization where former ambassadors continue to serve and work for philanthropic causes in the countries where they were accredited. We don’t just work to uplift communities through health, education and the economy. These are our main functions, but when there are immediate needs, such as after Hurricane Beryl, we come to the rescue.

“We raised over $500,000 to help Beryl. We couldn’t have predicted it, but over 1,000 people contributed to the Beryl relief fund that AFJ ran with Food For the Poor and other organizations,” said Bridgewater.