The UWI, Regional Headquarters, Jamaica. Thursday, April 04, 2024—The American Foundation for The University of the West Indies (AFUWI) will honour six distinguished individuals and organisations for their remarkable contributions and achievements at its 27th Annual Awards Gala themed “The Legacy Continues”. The signature fundraising gala, dedicated to benefiting UWI students’ scholarships takes place on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at 583 Park Avenue (@63rd Street), New York City from 6:30 p.m. (AST).

His Excellency Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, will be bestowed the Legacy Award, the gala’s highest honour. Donald Christian of PriceWaterhouseCoopers, is set to receive the Caribbean Luminary Award, while Michele Chow-Tai of Fairview Capital Partners will be honoured with the Vice-Chancellor’s Achievement Award. Antony Mark Desnoes Hart, Chairman of Caribbean Producers Jamaica, will receive the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Business Leadership & Community Engagement and The Hart Group is the recipient of the Corporate Award for Business Excellence. Reverend Patrick Perrin, retired Pastor of United Methodist Churches in Brooklyn & Queens will receive The Pelican Award, and Darren Skinner, Esq., Partner at Arnold & Porter, will be honoured with The Pinnacle Award. In addition to their sterling credentials, these distinguished awardees serve as beacons of inspiration, embodying the role of change agents for AFUWI’s scholarship recipients to emulate.

The Gala is AFUWI’s main fundraising event that benefits approximately 50 deserving students at The University of the West Indies (UWI) every year. A World Bank 2020 report reveals that the Caribbean region has the lowest enrollment rate for higher education in the hemisphere, with less than 25% compared to the North American average of nearly 60% and the Latin American average of 52%. This significant difference highlights the crucial role AFUWI plays in supporting the bright minds of the Caribbean and the urgent need to help them achieve their academic goals.

Over the last decade, approximately 600 tuition scholarships have been awarded from the gala proceeds in addition to fostering relationships with other leading institutions. The need for support notably increased in the wake of the global pandemic, doubling the calls from students facing dire financial circumstances; many often having to choose between necessities and tuition. AFUWI is grateful to its donor network for their outstanding ongoing support and is dedicated to meeting this exigent need. 

The public is asked to support through the #donatetoeducate campaign. Please visit www.afuwi.org  or call 212 759 9345 for tickets and table purchases. 

End

Notes:

AFUWI is recognized as a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization. Contributions, in cash or in-kind, are tax-deductible to the full extent of state and federal laws.  For additional information, please visit our website at www.afuwi.org.