Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer

SPANISH TOWN, St. Catherine:

Elaine Bryan, philan-thropist par excellence, winner of the Phoenix Award in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States, visited her native land, Jamaica, for the Christmas holidays.

When The Gleaner caught up with her, Mrs. Bryan revealed that it was a great feeling to be able to spend the holidays with family and friends.

A realtor by profession, Mrs. Bryan was born in Hope Pastures, St. Andrew, and migrated to Atlanta in 1990.

She has impacted the lives of many less fortunate but talented individuals by way of scholar-ships and grants to attend colleges and universities in the United States.

Mentoring others

She told The Gleaner, "When I came to Atlanta, things were good for me as I had great mentors. I take it as a duty to mentor several persons from Atlanta to be what they could be."

She added that among the many persons she has mentored are Jamaicans, as even though they were talented, they did not know how to access loans or grants to go to school.

Her work was first recognised by Judge Brenda Hatchett who gave her an award for counselling.

However, her big recognition came on July 15 this year when she was given the Phoenix Award, the highest award presented by the mayor to persons in Atlanta.

"Mayor Shirley Franklyn thought it was good for me being a Jamaican to have assisted so many persons and I was given the award for service through education to Atlanta."

Success Centre

Mrs. Bryan said come March next year, she will be starting the Bryan's Success Centre where she can directly affect the lives of persons who might be in need of her help.