Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor

With the effects of the international financial crises on the world and its deleterious impact on the lifestyle of people across the globe, conspicuous consumption is as out of style as the platform shoes.

In this the new world, where merely surviving is a taxing endeavour, we are all our brothers' keepers and the emphasis has now shifted from self, to the good of the whole. This paradigm shift is not one of empty piety, but a new awareness that brings with it social responsibility. Its primary function is to reach out a helping hand to assist individuals and organisations that are dedicated to the transformation.

Giving back

And so the mindset of the socially aware has moved from self to that of a more caring society, where life, achievements and special occasions are celebrated. But more so, with the emphasis of making them occasions for those who have, to share by giving back to the less fortunate.

One such organisation dedicated to stemming the social decline is the Steve Ashley-led Association of Friends and Families of Substance Abusers (AFAFOSA). It is a non-profit organisation with a mandate of not only helping substance abusers, but also sensitising our courts and judicial processes to the effect of substance abusers on their community, on crime and the judicial process on the whole. And through the process of rehabilitation, the positive overall impact this intervention can have on the society.

Counselling and therapy

AFAFOSA was first launched in 2003, but was re-launched in 2008 under the leadership of its current president, who has widened the mandate of the organisation to now facilitate counselling and therapy for substance abusers.

In this respect, on Mother's Day, Steve Ashley and his wife, Betty, opened their home in Norbrook, St Andrew, and hosted a fund-raising brunch, from which proceeds are to be dedicated to the creation of a counselling centre, for AFAFOSA. The centre will further assist with the rehabilitation of substance abusers and stem the antisocial and sometimes criminal behaviour that are direct results of it.

Dears, not only was it a most worthy cause; it was well and truly supported by corporate Jamaica, as demonstrated by SuperClubs, Digicel, Pulse, The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, Café Aubergine, and others who donated time and products to the cause. A number of leading families, personalities, trustees and directors of AFAFOSA, as well as volunteers, guaranteed its overwhelming success.

My dears, we are talking a fabulous Jamaican brunch here, with the traditional fare of ackee and salt fish, mackerel rundung; escovietch fish; a to-die-for 'flittas', callaloo and with salt fish, 'chocklit-tea', and sno-cone, making for a marvellous fare! But my dears, if things deliciously and wickedly sweet were your thing, then dears, it was the dessert station that had guests humming in this regard! My daahlings, we are talking nothing short of heavenly here, and then some! From the potato pone to the cherry-glazed blackforest cake and the caramel pudding, it was all good!

And then there was the fabulous company that included Col Trevor McMillan and his wife, Dr Olivia McDonald; Resident Magistrate Stephanie Jackson Haisley, her hubby, Garfield, and his mom, Mrs Angelita Haisley; Honorary Consul of Iceland Robert MacMillan and his companion, Candy DePass; AFAFOSA's trustee Dr Myo Kyaw Oo; Mrs Paula Azan; international financial consultant, Mark Jones, and his wife, architect Julie Jones; Dr Winty Davidson and wife, Dr Sonia Davidson, and their daughters, Donna and Chima; businessman and socialite Yvon Désulmé; advertising dynamo Guerney and Pamela Beckford and their daughter, Andrea, and Lance Johnson.

Also seen were Howard and Sandra Aris, their son, Quinton, and daughter, Shannon; Ray Campbell; Chris Berry and wife, Dr Patricia Yap, and his mom, Mrs Doris Berry; attorney Patrick Bailey; businessman Tanny Shirley, out with his mom and dad, Merle and Arnold, his sister, Avril, niece, Jody Gordon, her husband, Robert, and nephew, Stephaun Goldstein; Sonita Morin Abrahams and mother, Ophelia Morin; Betty Delfosse-Ingleton; Rajiv Bakshi squired Taquise Gordon-Smith; the lovely Elizabeth Levy; attorney-at-law Chris Honeywell, his mom, Mrs Aleen O'Connor, and his son, Warren.

Also out were European Union official Alex Dropinski, and his wife, the lovely Dr Saphire Longmore; Michael and Lorraine Robinson and their sons, Omar, Jermaine and Phillip; inspector of police and treasure of AFAFOSA, Robert Taylor; secretary, the charming Merline Daley and, assistant secretary, Mrs Glenda Prescod; director, Kathy-Ann Pyke and daughter, Giselle; Mr and Mrs Keith Garvey; the absolute fab Trisha Thompson of Digicel; Miguel Bernard; Marsha Wilson and her mom, Janet Wilson; Sybil Harvey; Lola Gordon; Mrs Beveline Brown-Smith; plus several others.