NEW YORK – The American Foundation for the University of the West Indies (AFUWI) will stage its annual benefit gala on February 1, 2005 in New York City, where tribute will be paid to outstanding Caribbean citizens who have contributed to the development of the arts, culture, sciences and human rights in the region.

The names of those to be honoured have not been released, but the foundation said also to be honoured at the event, being hosted by Jamaican-born actress Sheryl Lee Ralph, is the Jamaican women’s sprint relay gold medal team from the Athens Olympics.

Telecommunications giant Verizon and the Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) will also be presented with awards for their contribution to regional integration and development.

Under the theme ‘The Legacy Continues’, the benefit gala is being staged under the patronage of philanthropist Harry Belafonte.

Last year’s honourees included Cicely Tyson, Caribbean stage and screen legend; Dianne Abbott, Britain’s first black female MP; Oliver Clarke, chairman of the Gleaner Company; Douglas Orane, chief executive officer of Grace Kennedy; and Jamaican Dr Augustus Grant, past president of the American Heart Association.

Established in 1956, AFUWI is the primary fund-raising group for the UWI in the United States.

It organises special events, identifies funding sources, facilitates research programmes and develops partnerships with North American corporations, foundations, alumni and other groups in order to fund projects, scholarships and academic programmes at the UWI’s three campuses and 13 outreach centres.