On January 26, there was a distinguished gathering at the Pierre Hotel in New York City. Those in attendance were members from the University of the West Indies Alumni, as well as specially invited guests, including New York's former Mayor David Dinkins, songwriter Irving Burgie, and BET's CEO Debra Lee. They all journeyed to be part of the prestigious 14th Annual Award Gala, organised by the American Foundation for the University of the West Indies (AFUWI).
All those who attended this stellar event left the confines of their well-heated homes to face some of the most inclement weather conditions experienced by New Yorkers for many years. However, once assembled inside the hotel there was no evidence that these AFUWI loyalists had earlier in the evening battled with incessant snow, sleet, and freezing rain from the latest blizzard.
The AFUWI Legacy Awards Gala is the premier fund-raising event of AFUWI in the US. Through its efforts the organisation is able to raise well-needed funds to support scholarship programmes for deserving students at the University of the West Indies (UWI). This year's affair entitled The Legacy Continues, was hosted by the bubbly Star Jones, noted American lawyer and television personality. It was the hottest ticket in town, besides the Prince concert, with patrons paying between US$500 to $2,500 to support this noble cause.
AFUWI aims to provide scholarships to students from across the four campuses of UWI. Two recipients of scholarships were Kimberly Morris, who is pursuing a law degree at the Cave Hill Campus, Barbados, and Nadine Goss who is studying Management Studies at the Open Campus in Grenada. Both young women, whose mothers are their sole benefactors, expressed their gratitude to AFUWI and emphasised the importance of the funds in assisting them to meet their financial obligations while attending university.
Dual-purpose event
The gala was not only an occasion to promote the importance of the academic development of Caribbean youth at UWI. It also provided an opportunity to pay homage to individuals, who in their unique way, contributed to the advancement of issues important to Caribbean people. In this regard, nine distinguished awards were presented to outstanding individuals who epitomised the criteria established by AFUWI.
The categories consisted of the AFUWI Special Award, the Bob Marley Award, the Caribbean Luminary Awards, and the Vice Chancellor's Achievement Awards.Emmy Award Winner Suzanne de Passe, co-chair of de Passe Jones Entertainment, became the first female to be awarded the prestigious AFUWI Bob Marley Award.The Bob Marley Award is bestowed on individuals whose contribution to the advancement of arts and culture transcend boundaries of race, colour, creed and geography, uniting people throughout the world in a spirit that embodies the essence of the music and lyrics of the late Robert Nesta Marley.
De Passe was overcome with emotion during her acceptance speech, as she paid tribute to her grandfather who migrated from Jamaica, penniless.She said the values he instilled in her were cherished, and had contributed to her success. Her modesty was evident when she remarked, "I am so grateful and appreciative to be the first woman to receive this award in the name of Bob Marley."
Suzanne de Passe began her career with Motown, discovering Michael Jackson and The Jackson 5, Lionel Richie and the Commodores, and numerous other multi-million selling artistes.Honourees in the Caribbean Luminary category included Michelle Johnson, clinical cardiologist at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; ambassador Carlton Masters, CEO of Good Works International LLC, who also plays a leading role in convening engagements between numerous Fortune 500 corporations and Caribbean and African nations; Kaye Foster-Cheek, SVP of Onyx Pharmaceuticals.
It was very historic that the late Carlos Lezama, founder of the Trinidad-styled, Brooklyn Labour Day Carnival, was honoured posthumously by the AFUWI. This pioneering aficionado was often deprived of due credit for the role he played in the integration of Caribbean people based in New York through the Carnival arts.The AFUWI award was thus a timely reminder of the contribution of this quintessential Caribbean man.
In accepting the award on behalf of her father via a video link, Yolanda Lezama-Clarke of T&T, described her deceased father as a charismatic leader, who was dedicated to the development of Caribbean culture in the USA.Senior Advisor to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, and President of Verizon Foundation, Patrick Gaston, was the recipient of the AFUWI Special Award in recognition of his outstanding professional accomplishments, as well as his years of dedicated service and commitment to the mission of the AFUWI.
He accepted the award in memory of the late Professor Emeritus Rex Nettleford of UWI.A longtime friend and mistress of ceremonies of past AFUWI galas since inception, Brenda Blackmon, co-anchor of My9 News, WWOR TV, along with international Jamaican artiste Michael Escoffrey and Jeanine Liburd of BET Networks, received the Vice Chancellor's Award.The evening was also a time for guests to sample some of the good food which has always characterised each gala hosted by the foundation.
From all appearances those assembled enjoyed the offerings of curried chicken breast, pineapple and fruit chutney rice, with gungo peas.However, while dining they were not oblivious of the central objective of AFUWI, that is, to raise money to fund the various programmes promoted by the organisation.As a result, patrons participated enthusiastically in the live and silent auction programme, which helped fund the programmes of the American Foundation for the University of the West Indies.