By Ibrahim Dabo
NEW YORK CITY, NY—The American Foundation for the University of the West Indies (AFUWI) on January 26, 2011, held its 14th Annual Legacy Awards gala in New York City, honoring Suzanne de Passe, Co-Chair of de Passe Jones Entertainment.
Proceeds from the prestigious gala help support scholarship programs at the University of West Indiess (UWI), a leading institution of higher education in the Caribbean.
Other honorees at the Black Tie event include Patrick Gaston, president of Verizon Foundation (recipient of the AFUWI Special Award).
Honorees in the Caribbean Luminary category include: Michelle Johnson, medical doctor of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Ambassador Carlton Masters, chief executive officer of GoodWorks International; Kaye Foster-Cheek of Onyx Pharmaceuticals, and Yolanda Lezama-Clark.
“Naturally it makes you feel very special,” Ms. de Passe told Ib’s Blog of her honor.
“I also believe that the university is an incredible institution doing such great things. I am very pleased to accept this award in the name of Bob Marley.”
Ms. de Passes is the first female to be awarded the prestigious AFUWI Bob Marley Award.
The Bob Marley Award is a recognition granted to individuals whose contribution to the advancement of arts and culture transcends boundaries of race, color, creed and geographies, uniting people throughout the world in a spirit that embodies the essence of the music and lyrics of the Hon. Robert Nesta Marley.
Ms. 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 artists.
The American Foundation for the University of the West Indies (AFUWI) was established in 1956 to develop an endowment fund in the United States for The University of the West Indies (UWI).
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