New York, NY – The American Foundation for The University of the West Indies (AFUWI) is honored to announce that award-winning actress, philanthropist, and advocate CCH Pounder will present AFUWI’s Legacy Award to His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, at the 27th Annual “The Legacy Continues” Gala. This prestigious event will be held on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at 583 Park Avenue (@63rd Street), New York City, at 6:00 pm.
Ms. Pounder, a Guyanese-born actress recognized for her remarkable career spanning five decades and her profound contributions to art and culture, is the 2018 recipient of AFUWI’s Bob Marley Award. Recipients of this award symbolize hope and inspiration for young scholars aspiring to make a societal impact. Her journey with AFUWI, from honoree to a staunch advocate for educational access, reflects a commitment to lighting the path for the Caribbean’s brightest minds. Since joining the AFUWI family, CCH Pounder has significantly bolstered the foundation’s mission to provide scholarships for exceptionally bright yet financially challenged students at The University of the West Indies (UWI).
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“The Legacy Continues” Gala is AFUWI’s principal fundraising event, directly supporting the scholarship program for deserving students at the UWI. On average, 50 exceptional students receive scholarships annually through this initiative. With the lowest higher education enrollment in the hemisphere, the Caribbean’s tertiary enrollment rate is less than 25% compared with the North American average of nearly 60% and the Latin American average of 52%, according to The World Bank 2020. This stark disparity highlights the importance of our mission and the urgent need to support the bright minds of the Caribbean.
Over the last decade, approximately 600 tuition scholarships have been awarded, alongside fostering relationships with other leading institutions. The need for support has notably increased in the wake of the global pandemic, doubling the demand from deserving students. AFUWI is dedicated to meeting this need and encourages support through the #donatetoeducate campaign. For ticket and table purchases, please visit www.afuwi.org.
AFUWI is recognized as a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization. Contributions, whether financial or in-kind, are tax-deductible as permitted by state and federal laws.
