Dr. Harold Freeman, CEO, President and Founder of the Harold P. Freeman Patient Navigation Institute in New York and Professor Emeritus of Surgery at Columbia University is this year’s recipient of the 2016 American Foundation for The University of the West Indies (AFUWI) Lifetime Achievement Award. Freeman, the preeminent authority on the subject of poverty and cancer, will be presented with the prestigious award at the glitzy Annual Legacy Awards Gala on Wednesday, February 24, 2016 at The Pierre in New York City.
Also being honored is the highly acclaimed soca artist and entertainer Machel Montano who will receive the American Foundation for The University of the West Indies (AFUWI)Bob Marley Award.
In 1979, Freeman established two free breast- and cervical-cancer-screening centers in Harlem in order to improve the chances of early detection. He authored the landmark report, “Cancer in the Economically Disadvantaged,” which established the links between poverty and excess cancer mortality.
Montano, who has been performing on stage since he was seven years old, performed as a support act for the great calypsonian The Mighty Sparrow in a memorable Madison Square Garden Concert in 1984 at the age of nine. Montano has won Trinidad & Tobago’s Power Soca Monarch Championships for five consecutive years (2011-2015). He has toured extensively around the world and has released 42 albums over his 33-year career. Machel is also credited with the significant increase in the global promotion of Soca music.
Now in its 19th year, the annual event, organized under the auspices of Honorary Patron, Dr. The Hon. Harry Belafonte, O.J., seeks to raise funds for the University of the West Indies (UWI), the largest and most longstanding higher education provider in the English-speaking Caribbean.
Among the other honorees are healthcare executive Daphne Jones, Chief Information Officer, GE Healthcare Global Services who will receive the Caribbean Luminary Award; Larry Miller, President, Jordan Brand, a division of Nike Inc., who will be presented with the Trailblazer Award; Phillip Gore and Christine Gore, both Directors of the Phillip & Christine Gore Family Foundation will be presented with the Vice Chancellor’s Achievement Award, while Tirrell Whittley, CEO & Principal of Liquid Soul will accept the Corporate Award. The Legacy Awards are conferred on notable individuals or entities which represent high levels of achievement within their respective fields of industry, enterprise and in service to their communities.
World famous entertainer/activist Danny Glover is this year’s Honorary Gala chair, while former New York City Mayor David Dinkins is Honorary Dinner Chair. Kaye Foster will serve as Dinner Patron with past awardee Paxton Baker serving as Gala Chair.The Gala starts at 6 pm with a reception and auction, followed at 7 pm by the dinner and program.
Tickets for the fundraising gala start at $500 and should be reserved by Wednesday, February 10, 2016. To reserve or purchase tickets, contact AFUWI by calling 212-759-9345.
