Olive Miller, representing all charities receiving donations, thanked Linton Tibbetts for his generosity.

In a landmark ceremony, a number of deserving Cayman charities, churches and Government facilities each received a cheque for US$5,000 from local philanthropist Linton Tibbetts, OBE, and his wife Polly.

Mr Tibbetts handed the donations to representatives from each of the fourteen organizations on Thursday, 11 May, at Cox Lumber on Eastern Avenue, which is one of the businesses owned by the Tibbetts family.

The privately funded charities that benefited from Mr Tibbetts’ generosity were: the Jack and Jill Nursery and Early Learning Centre, Miss Nadine’s Pre-school, the Nadine Andreas Residential Foster Home, and the Pines Retirement Home.

All of these facilities are part of the National Council of Voluntary Organizations (NCVO), which is an independent, non-profit, charitable organisation that engages in projects to meet the ever-increasing social needs of the community.

Mr Tibbetts also recognized the needs of three churches - Cayman Islands Baptist Church, First Baptist Church of Grand Cayman, and Good News Baptist Church – as well as Triple C School, a private Christian school on Grand Cayman.

In addition, Mr Tibbetts gave to a number of Government operated facilities. These included two foster homes overseen by the Children and Youth Services (CAYS) Foundation - the Bonaventure Boys Home and the Francis Bodden Girls Home.

Eagle House, a juvenile rehabilitation centre for juvenile and young offenders, received a donation, as well as Lighthouse School, a non-residential school for children with special needs, and the Sunrise Adult Training Centre, where adult students continue learning life skills.

Five thousand dollars was also presented to a representative from Maple House, a residential facility for young clients that have special needs. This is managed by the Department of Children and Family Services and can cater to eight children and young people.

The Leader of Government Business, the Hon Kurt Tibbetts, addressed the recipients of the donations and members of the media with a reminder of the contributions made by Linton Tibbetts to the economy of all three of the Cayman Islands over the years.

These included the construction of two hotels on Cayman Brac, and setting up an airline to service the Sister Islands when there was none. The Tibbetts family also own resorts on Little Cayman and Cox Lumber on Grand Cayman.

Linton Tibbetts continued to operate some of these businesses even when they were not profitable, in order to benefit the Islands, noted the LOGB.

In his address, Linton Tibbetts announced that in a recent family meeting, his nine grandchildren proposed forming a Tibbetts Family Foundation to help generate awareness and funds for their charitable concerns.

While this would take some time to set up, this foundation would bring relief to organizations in need in the Cayman Islands, he said.

Blessing at the ceremony were offered by Pastor David George of First Baptist Church of Grand Cayman and by Pastor Chet Tibbetts of Good News Baptist Church
Olive Miller, representing all charities receiving donations, gave the vote of thanks to the Tibbetts family, and Virginia Tibbetts Castillo of Cayman Islands Baptist Church offered blessings on the Tibbetts family.

Mr Tibbetts left Cayman Brac with just $16 in his pocket in 1942 and built up a family-owned business, Cox Lumber, which was the largest independent lumber and building supply company in the southeast United States.

The company employed 950 people when he sold it to Home Depot recently, and had a sales total of $400 million in 2005. He was rewarded for his many contributions to the economy of the Cayman Islands with the Order of the British Empire in 2003.

Among Mr Tibbetts’ many charitable donations over the years was a recent presentation of CI$350,000 towards an extension for Kirkconnell Community Care Centre, the seniors’ home on Cayman Brac.