The American Foundation for the University of the West Indies recently thanked Digicel — the Caribbean’s largest mobile telecommunications firm — for its major contributions to the institutions in the region.
The recognition took the form of the foundation’s Corporate Leadership Award, which was accepted by Denis O’Brien, Digicel’s founder and chairman, at the foundation’s annual benefit gala at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in Manhattan.
It’s been a win-win situation for Digicel and the region. The company has gotten tons of high-profile exposure and the region has benefited from its sponsorship of major Caribbean events and institutions.
Among them are Digicel’s lead sponsor roles with the West Indies Cricket Team and Special Olympics teams in the Caribbean. The firm also was title sponsor of the Digicel Caribbean Football Union Cup and the Copa De Naciones, the Caribbean and Central American qualifiers to the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
In addition, through the Digicel Foundation, the giant telecommunications company has given about $7 million to build 20 primary schools in Haiti and aid community projects in Jamaica.
Actor-activist Harry Belafonte was among the VIPs recognized by the American Foundation for the University of the West Indies at the event. For information about the foundation, visit the Web site: www.afuwi.org.
Chamber’s biz plan for 2008
A new Financial Literacy Program, an initiative to help women- and minority-run firms do business with the city, and the anticipated groundbreaking for the Caribbean Trade Center Business Incubator Project, are just some of the points on the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s 2008 calendar, organization founder and CEO Roy Hastick said.
Also on the agenda for this year is the reopening of the renovated, chamber-managed Flatbush-Caton Merchants Market, and the continuation of chamber initiatives, such as free business counseling in conjunction with Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE).
Other 2008 events will include the chamber’s Salute to Women Entrepreneurs during National Women’s History Month in March, a new Health and Wellness initiative and a Franchising and Contracting Expo in April, and the Entrepreneur of the Year Awards Gala at Brooklyn’s Steiner Studios in May.
And a wide array of business-related activities is planned for the month of June — Caribbean-American Heritage Month.
Visit www.caribbeantradecenter.com and call 718-834-4544 for information on programs and membership in the chamber.
Forum on anti-gay lyrics
Journalist Stan Evan Smith, Sirius radio programmer Pat McKay and popular poet-activist Staceyann Chin will be part of a “Forum on Anti-Gay Lyrics in Reggae Music” that will take place Thursday, February 7 in Brooklyn at the Central Library branch at Grand Army Plaza.
The event — whose panelists will also include professor Kelly Baker Josephs of York College, D.J. Roy of Irie Jam radio (93.5-FM) and Donald Powell of the Anti-Discrimination Project at Gay Men of African Descent — will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. in the library at Flatbush Avenue and Eastern Parkway. For information, call 917-535-6738/ 631-335-2090, or send e-mail to nylevents@gmail.com.
Spring classes for retirees
The institute for Retirees in Pursuit of Education at Brooklyn College started its spring ’08 semester this week, and retirees of any age can take philosophy, history, art and other courses. They also can attend workshops in subjects such as painting, drama, singing, computers and yoga.
All these activities and more are available to retirees for a six-month introductory membership fee of $35 for the spring semester. There are no additional fees, no prerequisites for courses and no exams to take.
The program courses are held on Brooklyn College’s beautiful campus. Program members can use the college library and computer labs. For information, call 718-951-5647 or visit www.irpe.brooklyn.cuny.edu online.
Entertainment double play
Baseball and the significance of Black History Month will come together this month in two one-act plays saluting Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson and the pioneering players in the Negro Leagues.
The plays — “Satchel: A Requiem for Racism,” and “Josh: The Black Babe Ruth” — will be playing at the Abrons Arts Center at the Henry Street Settlement, 466 Grand Street in Manhattan, through February 24, produced by the Castillo Theatre and the New Federal Theater, respectively.
“Satchel,” written by Fred Newman, traces the successes and frustrations of Paige, a Negro League pitching phenomenon. Michael Jones wrote “Josh: The Black Babe Ruth,” which looks at the life of Negro League legend Josh Gibson, who died without ever playing in major leagues.
Admission is $20. Show times are Wednesday through Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 3 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. For tickets, call 212-279-4200 or visit www.ticketcentral.org. For information, call 212-353-1176 and visit www.newfederaltheatre.org.
This column is reprinted from the February 3, Sunday editions of The New York Daily News. If you have any items suitable for this column please e-mail them to jmccallister@nydailynews.com.
