By JARED MCCALLISTER From Daily News New York

The Legacy Continues theme of the upcoming American Foundation for the University of the West Indies gala is aptly titled considering the group’s steadfast, decadeslong commitment to the Caribbean institution, its students and alumni.

To this goal, the foundation’s historic 20th annual awards gala will be held Thursday at The Pierre hotel, 2 E. 61st St. (at Fifth Ave.) in Manhattan, starting at 6 p.m.

Honorees include Rep. Yvette Clarke, recipient of the American Foundation’s inaugural Hon. Shirley Chisholm Award. And Ky-Mani Marley, son of late reggae great Bob Marley, is due to present the Bob Marley Award to Barbados-born American hip-hop pioneer Doug E. Fresh.

Among the honorees are outstanding institutions that will receive “Champions of Community Engagement” awards. They are Dennis Shipping Co., Finn Partners, The Door Restaurant Corp., the Kimberly Hotel and Sesame Flyers International. There will be an individual recognition for Transport Workers Union Local 100 Secretary-Treasurer Earl Phillips.

Other awards, and their recipients, are the Vice Chancellor’s Achievement Award: Rachel Baker; the Humanitarian Award: Paul Salmon and The Rockhouse Foundation; and the Caribbean Luminary Award: British-born singer Estelle, whose father in from Grenada.

Former Mayor David Dinkins, entertainer Harry Belafonte, Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery & Grill President/CEO Lowell Hawthorne and Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Lloyd Williams are among the gala’s patrons and planners.

WCBS-TV news anchor Maurice DuBois, WBLS-FM disk jockey Dahved Levy and “The Breakfast Club” radio personality Angela Yee will host the affair.

Since its establishment in 1956, the foundation has provided scholarships and grants, and funded projects to aid the University of the West Indies, the largest higher education institution in the English-speaking Caribbean.

For information on purchasing seats or tables, contact Ann-Marie Grant at the foundation by calling (212) 759-9345 or send email to [email protected]. And visit the foundation’s website atwww.afuwi.org.

IMAGE: Students at the University of the West Indies benefit from Thursday’s gala in Manhattan and other activities of the American Foundation for the University of the West Indies.(FACEBOOK.COM/UWIALUMNIONLINE)