This year’s honorees of the 27th annual AFUWI gala are from top left: Guyana’s President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali; Mr. Don Christian, a Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP; Attorney Darren Skinner, Co-General Counsel of the law firm of the Washington, D.C. office of Arnold & Porter; Bottom L-R: Mr. Anthony Mark Desnoes Hart, Executive Chairman of the Caribbean Producers Jamaica Ltd.; Ms. Michele Chow-Tai, the Managing Director of Business Development at Fairview Capital Partners; and Rev. Patrick Perrin, recently retired as a United Methodist Elder (AFUWI image)
Mr. Don Christian, a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, with a 35-year career in technology, aerospace, defense, and more. He is also a trustee at Howard University and the McDonogh School and the founder of the Jamaica Howard University Affinity Network, (J-1 or JHUAN), which has raised over $250,000 for Jamaican students.
Mr. Anthony Mark Desnoes Hart, the executive chairman of Caribbean Producers Jamaica Ltd. and a key figure in its establishment. He previously served as CEO, and is also a founding shareholder of the company, which is currently listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, (JSE).
Attorney Darren Skinner, co-general counsel of the Washington, D.C. office of Arnold & Porter, a law firm that provides sophisticated regulatory, litigation, and transactional representation to nearly half of the Fortune 100 and many other clients.
Ms. Michele Chow-Tai, the managing director of Business Development at Fairview Capital Partners, where she spearheads strategic planning and client strategies to enhance the firm’s private equity and venture capital endeavors. Ms. Chow-Tai is also actively involved in several boards, including the National Association of Securities Professionals – New York Chapter and the Greater New Haven Chambers of Commerce.
Rev. Patrick Perrin, who from Jamaica to New York, has dedicated most of his life to guiding his congregation and youth. Rev. Perrin recently retired as a United Methodist Elder after serving St. John’s United Methodist Church of Elmont in Valley Stream, New York, ending 32 years of service to the United Methodist Church.
Each ticket, table, sponsorship, or donation helps to fund education in the Caribbean and create the next generation of leaders in a region that struggles with a lack of access to capital. Get your tickets today for the AFUWI 27th annual gala at https://www.afuwi.org/
ABOUT AFUWI
The American Foundation for The University of The West Indies, (AFUWI), a US-based non-profit, seeks to transform the lives of exceptionally talented young women and men who are in dire financial circumstances by providing access to higher education so they can break the cycle of generational poverty and make an economic impact in their local communities and throughout the Caribbean region. During the past 10+ years alone, AFUWI has provided approximately 600 tuition scholarships to students across the Caribbean region, donated $7.5M in goods, and brokered multiple relationships with other tier-one institutions. All contributions – cash or in-kind – are tax-deductible to the full extent of state and federal laws. Donate to support education today at afuwi.org
ABOUT UWI
The University of the West Indies, (UWI), initially known as the University College of the West Indies, is a public university network that fulfills the higher education needs of 17 English-speaking Caribbean nations and territories. These include both members of the Commonwealth and British Overseas Territories. The UWI aims to foster economic and cultural growth across the West Indies, enhancing regional independence. Initially affiliated with the University of London, UWI has become a cradle of excellence in various fields, including arts, sciences, business, and politics, with its alums and faculty earning global recognition such as Nobel Prizes, Rhodes Scholarships, and more. The UWI operates across multiple campuses: Mona in Jamaica, Cave Hill in Barbados, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda, and the Open Campus serving the broader Caribbean.