Businesswoman Brings Joy

Giving thanks for things to come
Yvonne Webb
Published: 21 Dec 2009




Move over Santa, and make way for the real Mrs Claus—Sherylin Michtavy. On December 12, Michtavy brought joy to approximately 100 men and women who have dedicated their lives to taking care of the two most vulnerable groups in our society: children and the elderly. The beneficiaries, from 23 different homes across the country, were brought to the beautifully decorated Royal Hotel, San Fernando, where they were treated to a wonderful Christmas dinner, while live parang band, Flores de San Jose, dished out a repertoire of classic parang and traditional songs of the season. It is the third consecutive year she has bestowed such lavish treatment on the care givers.

Each beneficiary was given also given an envelope containing $400, as a Christmas present. Two lucky people also got to take home the two elegant Christmas trees that formed part of the decor. In keeping with the theme Giving Thanks for Things to Come, the highlight of the evening was when the names of all the homes were written on a piece of paper and placed in a bottle to be drawn for a grand prize of $10,000 that would go towards the home. The lucky home, drawn by Michtavy’s close friend, former San Fernando Mayor Ian Atherly, was Christ Child Convalescent Home. Moruga girl Michtavy migrated to the United States more than 20 years ago, where she founded several successful businesses. Four years ago, after she was introduced to the Phillips Children Home, she founded the St Jude Centre for Children and Seniors and made a commitment to improve their lives.

At the function on Saturday night, she said 40 per cent of the funds from one of her establishments, Fifth On Main, will be dedicated to the care of the homes. Senior Magistrate Lucinda Ragoonanan, who was on hand to celebrate the occasion, described Michtavy as “a woman of great faith and trust in God.” “A woman who has been through many challenges and by God’s grace has conquered and overcome these challenges. A woman who, I believe, has been blessed a hundredfold with wisdom, grace and strength to carry out the enormous tasks given to her by God—all of which she does with humility and honesty.” Dr Jennifer Rouse from the Ministry of Social Services, Division of Ageing, one of Michtavy’s special guests, noted that more people were living beyond their life expectancy and attributed this longevity to laughter.