Saint Lucian Prime Minister, Allen Chastanet and Trinidad and Tobago-born actress, Lorraine Toussaint will be among six people honoured at the upcoming annual Legacy Awards Gala hosted by the American Foundation for The University of the West Indies (AFUWI) on February 19. The Gala, to be held at the Pierre hotel in New York City, is now in its 23rd year.
This black tie event is The UWI’s major fundraising event in the United States. It brings together alumni and partners of The UWI to raise funds for scholarships for its students, while recognising the achievements of notable US and Caribbean personalities.
The Gala has become a ‘must attend’ for captains of the diaspora, counterparts and colleagues in North America and the Caribbean. Dr. Harry Belafonte, OJ, OM. is patron of the Gala, and has served in this capacity since the Gala’s inception.
The 2020 AFUWI Gala awardees are:
- Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, Allen Chastanet – the Legacy Award.
- Group Chief Executive Officer, JMMB, Keith Duncan – Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Business Leadership.
- 55th Governor of New York State, David Paterson – the Pinnacle Award for Public Service Leadership.
- US actress, Lorraine Toussaint – the Bob Marley Award.
- Associate Professor and Dean at College of Charleston, Dr Godfrey Gibbison, – the Pelican Award.
- Managing Partner and Co-founder of BRP Companies, Meredith Marshall – the Vice-Chancellor’s Corporate Award.
Vice-Chancellor of The UWI, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles has hailed the AFUWI for “consistently honouring a fine group of individuals and organisations who are trailblazers within and outside of the Caribbean, that make us proud and continue the legacy of high achievement and accomplishment which benefit us all.”
Vice-Chancellor Beckles also noted, “The UWI recognises its responsibility to serve the 21st century needs of the Caribbean people and is thankful for the partnerships and relations—which combined with our innovative initiatives—are helping to build The UWI as a premier global brand”.
Throughout the year, AFUWI, which is headquartered in Manhattan, New York City partners with the University’s alumni, the Caribbean community in the USA, American foundations and corporations to raise funds for scholarships in addition to development projects and academic programmes at The UWI. It provides an average of 50 scholarships each year.
