The American Friends Of Jamaica Honor The Jamaica National Building Society At The Peacock Gala In Miami
NEW YORK — The American Friends of Jamaica Inc. (AFJ) a 501 c (3) non profit organization established to support social and economic development in the island of Jamaica, will host its Sixth Annual Peacock Gala to be held on Saturday, May 22, 2010 at the famed Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Florida.
The gala is the AFJ’s signature event in the South Florida area, designed to raise much needed funding for Jamaican organizations and individuals in need. The areas targeted include education, health care and economic development.
The AFJ’s Peacock Gala will feature a cocktail reception, live entertainment, dinner and dancing, and will also include a fundraising auction of items ranging from fine art to luxury vacations.
This year, the AFJ will honor the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) with the International Achievement Award for exemplary contributions to the island of Jamaica in the fields of education, economic development and philanthropy.
For the past 136 years, the JNBS has worked to advance the aspirations of the people of Jamaica. Today, the JNBS is intrinsically national in scope, touching all aspects of Jamaican life, regional in its support of microfinance and new technologies, and transnational in its unswerving commitment to the Jamaican and Caribbean Diaspora across three continents.
“The American Friends of Jamaica is proud to be affiliated with JNBS, and to celebrate the spirit of philanthropy at our Peacock Gala in South Florida,” said AFJ Executive Director Donnette Chambers.
JNBS will become part of an illustrious list of individuals and corporations including last year’s recipients, Ambassador Brenda la Grange Johnson, and Michele Rollins of Rollins Jamaica Ltd. In previous years the awardees have included Father Richard Ho Lung (involved with Missionaries of the Poor), and Mr. Phillip Gore (of Gore Developments and Tennis Jamaica).
Additional past honorees include Ralph and Ricky Lauren, Mr. Tony Hart of Hart Investments, Food for the Poor, Island Records and Island Outpost founder Chris Blackwell, Hon. Oliver F. Clarke, O.J., of The Gleaner Company, the Diageo Corporation, and the inaugural honorees for the South Florida Gala: Monsignor Richard Albert, founder of the St. Patrick’s Foundation and Royal Caribbean Cruises.
For further information on ticket purchasing, or donations to the Sixth Annual AFJ Peacock Gala, please contact the American Friends of Jamaica at 212 626 6883 or contact us via email at [email protected], or visit their website at www.theafj.org.
