By Journalist Ms. Jones
HARTFORD, CT– “It’s a wonderful experience to be able to [give these leaders awards] knowing that they’re true humanitarians who have served the community faithfully… giving [their] service, sometimes without being compensated for it, but just doing what [they’re] doing because [they] love to serve. Without true humanitarians, our world would be in a terrible place…Our local police department, those that work in the hospitals… those who serve in the soup kitchen, they are humanitarians… and [they] deserve to be honored,” said Chancellor Dr. Dornett McIntosh, Founder of Heart Bible International University (HBIU) who distributed the awards. “I am so thankful for President Joe Biden who is helping to continue this legacy of this Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award… I’m so glad that HBIU was able to be one of the organizations that is able to give this award to help those that deserve to get [their] flowers now.”
The Presidential Lifetime Achievement Awards were issued on Sunday, August 27th at The Hartford Marriott during The Third Annual HBIU Presidential Lifetime Achievement Awards Gala. It was a Black & White Affair where participants wore black, white, gold, or silver. The President’s Award was founded by The President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation in 2003 to honor outstanding citizens who exhibit outstanding work ethic, character, and dedication to serving their communities. Not only did recipients receive the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for their outstanding community service and leadership excellence, they also received a Presidential Pin and The President’s Volunteer Service Award, a Humanitarian Service Award, and a Proclamation from the Mayor of Hartford and the State of Connecticut. Honorees included first responders, mayors, teachers, entrepreneurs, clergy, and even a king!
“I’m grateful to the university, HBIU, for honoring me with such an award. It’s ablessing,” said HRH King Geoffrey Wayabire of the Bugwere Kingdom in Uganda who gave a speech at the gala and invited Americans to come to Uganda where he pastors and oversees hundreds of churches with The Queen Mother HRH Harriet Wayabire. “Uganda is open. We need people to come and see Africa that haven’t been to Africa and have not been to Uganda before. You’re most welcome to come and see what the Lord is doing in that continent and country.”
HRH King Geoffrey Wayabire not only received the various awards during the gala, but the previous day he also received his doctorate degree from HBIU. Another person who received a doctorate degree and all of the aforementioned awards is Newburgh’s own Ms. Jones!
“I am so excited and honored to be receiving The Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award and other awards! It is amazing to be recognized for the work that I have done ministering in the prisons and nursing homes, feeding and performing for the homeless on Skid Row, tutoring countless students, being a mentor for children and new teachers, and for getting out the stories of people through newspaper articles, radio and TV shows, and documentaries,” said Ms. Jones who is a teacher, comedian, recording artist, radio announcer, TV Host, filmmaker, and newspaper reporter and who also emceed the gala.
“Jesus was the greatest servant of all. He describes himself as a servant in Mark 10:45 which states, ‘The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.’ I look at his example as well as my late grandmother Bishop Mother Virginia Bowman who took in families in need, paid for people’s funerals when loved ones required assistance, and sold her car to save individual’s homes from being foreclosed and my mother Virginia P. Bowman who diligently served with compassion as one of the first Black nurses at Vassar Brothers Medical Center.”
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