--- title: "What Drives You to Keep Giving: The Heart and Hope Behind Philanthropy’s Champions" description: AFUWI champions honoured for service show how philanthropy powers education. Scholarships, mentorship and leadership create lasting change in Jamaica. author: Dr Marina Nani (Editor-in-Chief) date: 2025-09-29T13:06:31.000Z updated: 2026-04-01T12:05:41.767Z canonical: https://richwoman.co/article/what-drives-you-to-keep-giving-the-heart-and-hope-behind-philanthropy-s-champions image: https://cdn.nanimediahouse.com/ktpkyus3qjs.jpg categories: Philanthropic Minds content_type: Feature region: Jamaica publication: Rich Woman Magazine --- When three supporters of the American Foundation for The University of the West Indies (AFUWI) received Jamaica’s national awards this month, something deeper was happening than just ceremony and recognition. For William Joseph Mahfood, Dennis Hawthorne and Dr George S Willie, these Order of Distinction awards represent decades of quiet commitment to Jamaica’s future – one scholarship, one mentorship, one community project at a time. ## What Drives Someone to Keep Giving AFUWI has provided nearly 650 tuition scholarships and bursaries over the last decade to students at The University of the West Indies, many from Jamaica. Behind those numbers are students like Danielle Brown, a Jamaican-born final-year medical student at UWI Mona, who says [AFUWI scholarships restored her hope](https://www.afuwi.org/) when financial barriers threatened her academic dreams. The [Order of Distinction](https://www.jamaica-land-we-love.com/the-order-of-distinction.html), established by Jamaica’s National Honours and Awards Act of 1968, carries the motto ‘Distinction Through Service’. For these recipients, the awards aren’t just recognition – they represent a lifetime of choosing to give back when they could have simply moved forward. ## Three Men, Three Reasons to Care William Joseph Mahfood, Chairman of WISYNCO Group, received the Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander. Those who know him speak of his quieter work – the [mentoring of young Jamaicans](https://lowrie-chin.blogspot.com/2017/04/william-mahfood-and-jamaicas-promise.html) and his support for education through programmes like WATA Hydrate to Educate. Along with his wife Frances, Mahfood has built a reputation for philanthropy dedicated to advancing Jamaican communities through education. Dennis Hawthorne built Dennis Shipping Inc. into the largest Jamaican-owned shipping company outside Jamaica after migrating from Westmoreland. His Order of Distinction Officer award recognises his services to philanthropy and community development. Hawthorne has consistently supported [scholarships and community programmes](https://www.caribbeanlife.com/dennis-hawthorne/) through partnerships with organisations like AFUWI and the Negril Education and Environmental Trust. For him, giving back isn’t separate from success – it’s part of what success means. Dr George S Willie, Managing Partner at Bert Smith & Co in Washington DC, serves as AFUWI’s Vice Chairman and was previously honoured as part of AFUWI’s Class of 2015. His Order of Distinction Officer award acknowledges his contributions to education and charitable causes both in Jamaica and abroad. Willie leads one of the major Jamaican-owned accounting firms in the United States whilst remaining actively involved in charitable causes focused on education. ## The Personal Side of Recognition For these three men, receiving Jamaica’s national awards represents something deeply personal. Each has maintained strong connections to Jamaica despite building successful careers abroad or expanding internationally from Jamaica. Their philanthropy comes from understanding firsthand how education can change lives and communities. ‘We are deeply proud of these extraordinary leaders whose legacies extend far beyond individual success,’ said [Ann-Marie Grant](https://cwha.org/bios/ann-marie-grant/), Executive Director of AFUWI. ‘Their recognition affirms their profound influence in shaping lives, policies and possibilities – not only in Jamaica but also across the global Jamaican diaspora.’ Grant herself shows this commitment to service. A Jamaican-born executive with degrees from UWI Jamaica, she began her service as a Girl Guide and Red Cross volunteer in Jamaica before leading AFUWI’s efforts to provide millions in scholarship support. Like many who give back consistently, [her motivation comes from a calling deeper than recognition](https://richwoman.co/article/actar-dinata-s-legacy-of-kindness-why-you-never-retire-from-giving). ## How Support Changes Everything The impact of diaspora philanthropy shows up in individual stories like Brown’s, but extends much wider. AFUWI raises funds through events like the annual Legacy Awards Gala and charity golf tournaments, turning contributions into opportunities for financially challenged students across UWI campuses. These programmes create ripple effects throughout Jamaica’s communities. When students complete their education with AFUWI support, they return to serve as doctors, teachers, engineers and leaders. The investment in [one student’s education](https://richwoman.co/article/honouring-three-decades-of-making-youth-sports-possible-and-the-power-of-creating-a-better-fu) becomes an investment in Jamaica’s future healthcare, education system and economy. The three honourees understand this multiplication effect. Their support goes beyond cheques – it involves mentorship, community engagement and maintaining connections that help scholarship recipients succeed throughout their studies and careers. [Lifting others creates change that extends far beyond individual achievement](https://richwoman.co/article/in-conversation-with-dame-neslyn-watson-druee-women-empowering-women). ## What We Can Learn About Giving The Order of Distinction awards for Mahfood, Hawthorne and Willie remind us that philanthropy doesn’t require wealth or fame – it requires caring enough to act. Their stories show how individual choices to support education and community development create lasting change. For readers considering how they might contribute to Jamaica’s development, these three men demonstrate that giving back takes many forms. Whether through direct scholarship support, mentorship, community programmes or simply encouraging educational excellence, every contribution matters. [Building connections and supporting others strengthens entire communities](https://richwoman.co/article/at-the-heart-of-sisterhood-keeping-the-caribbean-women-connected). As Grant observed about the honourees, their recognition represents more than personal achievement – it reflects how service, integrity and leadership align with national priorities. In supporting AFUWI and similar organisations, they’ve helped create pathways for Jamaica’s next generation of leaders, doctors, educators and innovators. Their example suggests that the most meaningful recognition comes not from awards themselves, but from knowing that [your commitment has opened doors for others to walk through](https://richwoman.co/article/everyday-grit-the-people-making-environmental-change-possible). That’s the kind of legacy that matters long after ceremonies end and speeches fade.