The Malta Council for Voluntary Services (MCVS) will explore the possibility of excluding politically-exposed persons (PEPs) from future awards after the controversy that erupted after the Prime Minister’s wife, Michelle Muscat, was awarded the ‘National Volunteer of the Year’.
The recipient courted significant controversy, with critics arguing that Muscat was an undeserved winner, when taking into account that her foundation currently holds €700,000 in its bank account, €200,000 of which is a BOV investment, and the thousands of hard-working and unrecognised individuals who devote their valuable time to charitable causes all without the media campaigns that accompany the Marigold Foundation’s events.
Her inclusion also begged the question of whether PEPs, much like the President and her involvement with the Community Chest Fund, should also be eligible for the award, with sources within the council telling the newsroom that a number of members were dissatisfied with this year’s winner.
“I believe that we should evaluate an individual’s contribution to society first and foremost, but we understand that their role has an impact on their ability to influence positive change. The unsung heroes often don’t get the credit for their work at award ceremonies,” MCVS Chairman Nathan Farrugia told The Malta Independent
However he was also quick to stress that the award recognises only those who are nominated and that the selection process was the same as every year.
“Ultimately, the aim of the award is to recognize the work of people who give their time and contribution altruistically to society. Many other unsung heroes are deserving of recognition, but the award currently only recognizes the small number of people who have been nominated. We need to do a better job to encourage more nominees, to have a wider representation of society in future.”
Farrugia insisted that council itself had no involvement with the nominees, and reiterated that he believed it should remain so.
“I need to point out that the council is made up of volunteers and nominated by their NGOs, with no other remit than to boost volunteering and VO work in the community. Our hope is that in future this award will encourage more people to give their time and contribution to our community.”
What were the criteria for selection?
A nominee, who must also endorse the nomination, is first put forward by two separate individuals, one of whom needs to be actively involved within the same voluntary organisation, meaning that someone from the Marigold Foundation itself nominated Muscat.
An adjudication board, which is composed Doris Bingley, Trevor Fenech, who both form part of the council, and Noel Camilleri, bases its decision on four criteria; voluntary action, voluntary vision, results achieved, and period dedicated to voluntary work; and awards points accordingly.
Muscat, who missed the ceremony in favour of another award in the Bahamas, beat out eight other nominees, Carol Fenech from Marsaxlokk Aquatic Sports Club; Joseph Gauci Maistre from The Malta Rabbit Club; John Sammut from the Mission Fund; Phillip Michael Chircop from Fondazzjoni Nanniet Malta; Louise Bajada from the Inspire Foundation; Andrew Pizzuto from the St John Rescue Corps; Erika Mifsud from Tgħanniqa; and Rita Fenech from the Malta Red Cross.
Muscat was nominated in her capacity as the chairperson of the Marigold Foundation, whose main objective is to support NGOs and associations financially or in kind, with the overarching aim to work and build a better community by addressing philanthropic causes related to societal issues.
Two of the foundation’s marquee events of 2017 were Muscat’s annual Swimming Challenge and the launch of The National Alliance for Rare Diseases Support
The Marigold Foundation currently holds a bank balance of almost €700,000 (€200,000 of which is in the form of endowment capital from BOV) and a surplus of €155,000.
In 2016, Marigold Foundation received donations totalling €503,348 and distributed €315,522 to NGOs; this was a significant improve from the previous year which saw the foundation only gave a quarter of its total earnings for the year to such organisations, after receiving €333,217 in donations and distributing €86,365 to NGOs, generating a surplus of €207,945.