Perseverance—the tenacity to remain determined and driven—was the theme of South Florida-based entrepreneur and philanthropist Philip Wong’s presentation in the second of the three-part lecture series at St George’s College, which highlighted his donation of $50 million, most of which will go toward a state-of-the-art gymnasium at his alma mater.
Wong, a 1959 St George’s College graduate with a degree in electrical engineering and an MBA, is the CEO of the Deltana Group of Companies, a leading architectural hardware manufacturer. Renowned for giving back, he pledged at the end of his presentation—an inspiring account of triumphs over trials—to fund a 40,000-square-foot gymnasium to be named after his wife and himself, equal partners in the venture. The Barbara and Philip Wong STGC Gymnasium will be a complete exercise facility, fully air-conditioned and equipped with locker rooms, stalls, bathrooms, and cutting-edge equipment. “It is to build both bodies and minds of the students and faculty,” said Wong.
Eighty percent of the $50 million will go toward the gymnasium, with the remaining 20 percent dedicated to hiring the brightest teachers to tutor students after school and on weekends.
Addressing a packed auditorium of students and educators from ten high schools across the island, Wong urged listeners not to be deterred by disappointments. “Put it quickly behind you,” he advised, recalling how he once returned to Jamaica for a promised job only to find it no longer available. The lesson, which remained pivotal throughout his life, was summed up in a single word: Persevere.
He shared other lessons directly with the students of his alma mater. “When you get an opportunity to attend a high school like St George’s College,” said Wong—who arrived in Jamaica at age five from Tahiti, speaking no English and growing up in Mavis Bank where his family ran a small shop—“you must embrace it and give it your all. Study hard, do your homework, and do not waste time. Do your best.”
To students planning to study overseas, he advised taking any job necessary to pursue their purpose, as he once did while working as a “house boy” during his years at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). “The job doesn’t matter,” he said. “The end result does.”
His final lesson was the importance of giving back once success is achieved. “When you’re successful, you should always give back whatever you can—in kind or service. When you give back it is empowering…and it always comes back to me tenfold.”
During a question-and-answer session, students repeatedly asked about the keys to success in business and leadership, and the qualities needed to recover from setbacks. Wong—whose life and generosity to St George’s College were profiled in a documentary—credited his supportive family and especially the patience of his wife, but returned again and again to the same guiding principle: Persevere.
