ITS HUMANITARIAN AWARD
photo credit: C. Harrison
By: C. Harrison/January 1, 2016/5:00 am
New York, NY….COJO, is a New York’s base Jamaican Charity; Children of Jamaica Outreach Inc., held its 21st Annual Fundraising Gala and Humanitarian Awards recently at the Hilton New York, JFK Airport. At the event, six outstanding community service awards were handed out to individuals and corporations that were most charitable to those in need in 2015; to children base in New York and Jamaica. Meteorologist Dave Price of NBC New 4, served has emcee for the evening.
The Gala Affair was attended by 250 plus guest, including his Excellency Ralph Thomas & his wife Sharon, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, Rev. Cannon Calvin McIntyre, political consultant Basil Smikle, among numerous other officials. Director of Administration at Sandals Resort International, Wayne Cummings, was this year’s guest of honor.
The Gala’s entertainment was provided by No-Maddz and Tropical Rhythms, who entertained during the cocktail hour and music ensued by Empea Entertainment.
photo credit: Margot Jordan
Headliner of the grant affair, Olympian, Veronica Campbell Brown, whose award was presented to her by COJO’s Founder, Gary Williams, thanked COJO, on being selected as the recipient of the special award. She was slated for the coveted award because she championed the work of COJO and its mission, which is similar to her own Foundation, which focuses on young women not children. The Sprinter, was also chosen for her work as a Goodwill Ambasador to promote gender equity and her efforts to give back to her home town in Trelawny.
The 2015 honorees were rounded out by: Madge Warren, for COJO’s Distinguish Service Award, Patrick Jolly, for COJO’s Visionary Award, Orville Mckenzie & Donald Vernon, Esq for COJO’s Community Service Award and Caribbean Airline, for COJO’s Corporate Service Award.
In addition, when addressing guests, Mr. William thanked sponsors, donors, and supporters for their commitment to the organization’s overall well being to ensure that COJO, is able to continue its mission of amelioration, to help in in the health, education and general affairs of underserviced children in Jamaica and here in the United States. Thus far, COJO, has contributed $500,000 to various child care facilities in Jamaica and provided scholarships to deserving wards of the State.
The organization which is made up of volunteers has, for the past two decades, supported a number of institutions in the United States and Jamaica, including the Alpha Boy’s Home, Glenhope Place of Safety, Marigold Child Centre, City of Refuge, St. Augustine Place of Safety for Boys, Musgrave Girl’s Home in Jamaica and in New York, the Jamaica, Queens YMCA. Moreover, since its inception in 1994, COJO, has dedicated its resources to the human and financial sector, to help make a difference in the lives of children in penury, in Jamaica and here in the United States.
Corporate sponsors for the Gala consisted of: JetBlue Airways, Half Moon, Hyatt Ziva, Jamaica Inn, Courtleigh & Suites, Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum, Jamaica Tourist Board, Caribbean Airline, Finn Partners, Grace Foods, Jablum, Sandals Resort, The Door Restaurant, Tower Isles and Walkerwood. Proceeds from the evening’s fundraising will provide scholarship and support for deserving students and Jamaican child care institutions in need.
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