The Bishop of the First Church of God, Vernon Lambe, will be awarded the Bermuda Health Foundation?s (BHF) salute to service award at a special dinner tomorrow night.

Speaking at the Bank of Bermuda on Tuesday, BHF President Philip Butterfield said the award was bestowed upon Bishop Lambe because of his community service.

?The Bishop we believe is a perfect example of a person who has dedicated his life to community service,? Mr. Butterfield, who is also CEO of the Bank of Bermuda, said.

Mr. Butterfield said Bishop Lambe first started giving back to the community when joined several Government boards 29 years ago. ?We feel he is an extraordinary person to recognise,? Mr. Butterfield said.

The purpose of the BHF award dinner is to raise funds to provide scholarships for Bermudians in the health care field.

Last year, three Bermudian women were each given $7,000 to become nurses, Mr. Butterfield said.

The BHF has been a charity since 2000 and this will be its third annual award dinner.

?Last year, we were very pleased with the BHF?s turnout of our second gala event, which raised much needed funds for Bermudians pursuing a health care field,? BHF secretary and Transport and Tourism Minister Ewart Brown said in a Press release.

?This year, we at the BHF felt Bishop Lambe was a man who has given much to this community in terms of selfless generosity, and we decided that he should be honoured for his accomplishments.?

Bishop Lambe, who is also chairman of the Bermuda Independence Commission, said he felt extremely privileged to have been considered for the prize.

?I believe a large number of persons in this community are making a contribution to the betterment of society,? Bishop Lambe said.

?I represent many of those who could be sitting where I am today.?

He said he felt a responsibility to his community and that he was ?called to duty many times in various spheres of service?.

?It is my conviction that when we serve people we build the community,? he said. ?As a clergyman I found it my responsibility to work with people on many levels.?

He added: ?On behalf of my wife and family, we wish to express appreciation to the foundation for having chosen me for this honour.?

BHF vice-president Vincent Hollinsid said the second annual BHF golf tournament will be held at Belmont Hills on Saturday, June 18.

The Bermuda Fire Service Chief said he looked forward to getting very good support from the community in general at the tournament.