Children of Jamaica Outreach (COJO) Inc, a New York-based non-profit organisation registered with the New York City Bureau of Charities, will present awards to four honorees who through their respective endeavours have sought to play a role in positively impacting the future of children in Jamaica and the United States.

COJO’s mission is to help improve the health, education and general well-being of less fortunate children in the two countries. The presentation will take place at the Hilton New York, JFK Airport on Saturday, December 1, 2018 during the organisation’s 24th Annual Scholarship Gala & Awards.

Rockhouse Foundation Chairman Paul Salmon will be presented with the 2018 COJO Humanitarian Award. Salmon, who also serves as chairman of Rockhouse Hotel through the work of his foundation, has focused its resources and energy towards improving early childhood education institutions. Over the past decade, the foundation has invested more than US$4 million in projects improving education for the children in the Negril area.

Since its inception, the foundation has completely transformed and modernised six schools: Moreland Hill Primary and Infant Schools, Negril All-Age School, Negril Basic School, Little Bay All Age and Infant Schools, Bunch of Stars ECI , and Savanna-la-Mar Inclusive Infant Academy (SIIA), in addition to the complete renovation and expansion of the Negril Community Library. The Savanna-la-Mar Inclusive Infant Academy (SIIA) is a new school purposely built to service those with special needs in an inclusive environment.

Also being honoured is Feurtado Shipping which will receive the 2018 COJO Corporate Service Award.

Founded in 1981 by Joslyn Feurtado, a freight forwarder, customs broker and founding member of the Jamaica Customs Brokers Association, the company which is licensed and bonded by the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) transformed the way customers receive their shipments in Jamaica. Feurtado Shipping delivers all shipments from privately owned warehouses instead of from government wharves, reducing the time needed to clear and receive shipments in Kingston or Montego Bay, Jamaica.

The company has been a sponsor and supporter of COJO as well as many groups and organisations based in the New York tri-state area.

Another honour, the 2018 COJO Visionary Award, will be presented to Gopal M Burgher, founder/managing partner and head of the capital markets and finance practice group of BurgherGray LLP, a corporate law firm based in New York City.

Burgher has committed his service and support to a number of charitable and philanthropic organisations and causes over the years. They include the American Foundation for The University of the West Indies, The Fredonia College Foundation, ESPOIR Youth Program Inc, Children of Jamaica Outreach (COJO) Inc, Professional Jamaicans for Jamaica Inc, and the Dance Theater of Harlem, among others.

The fourth honoree is Dr Michael A Wiltshire, currently the principal of Medgar Evers College Preparatory School who will receive this 2018 COJO Distinguished Service Award.

Wiltshire is a proponent of a holistic approach to education and was appointed principal of Medgar Evers College Preparatory School August 2001. This is an approach that focuses on the total development of the student and all students are encouraged to participate in the performing and fine arts as well as sports.

Under his leadership, Medgar Evers College Preparatory School in New York has been transformed from a high school of 600 students to a premiere college preparatory secondary school (grades 6-12) with a population of more than 1260 students. He has implemented a unique secondary school model at Medgar Evers College Preparatory School. For the past seven years, Medgar Evers College Preparatory School has maintained a graduation rate between 95-98.8 per cent. Most of these graduates are admitted into some of the most prestigious colleges and universities in this country, including all the Ivy Leagues.

Chairman and Founder of COJO, Gary Williams, has high praises for this year’s illustrious group of honorees. Since inception in 1994, COJO has dedicated its resources, human and financial, to help make a difference in the lives of underserved children in Jamaica and the United States of America.