At a large, mesmerizing, sold-out gala ceremony Thursday evening, Caribbean Life feted over three dozen illustrious honorees throughout its annual Affect Awards at Terrace on the Park in Corona, Queens.
The most important Caribbean-themed newspaper in the US honored 37 people in the course of the nearly four-hour-long ceremony earlier than 400 enchanting patrons, waving their respective nationwide flags, screaming and dancing.
The Affect Awards, one of the vital celebrated annual occasions hosted by Caribbean Life, acknowledges the achievements and contributions of remarkable people of Caribbean background who’ve created essentially the most affect of their respective profession fields — from healthcare, the humanities, to advocacy, entrepreneurship, and far more.
The celebrated honorees are dedicated to creating and framing the trail for incoming immigrants and galvanizing generations to return.
A hundred percent of the proceeds from the raffle, in the course of the occasion, will profit The Trinbago Progressive Affiliation of the united statesA.
The occasion was sponsored by TD Financial institution, EmblemHealth, NYC Well being + Hospitals/Woodhull, Episcopal Well being Companies, Joseph P. Addabbo Household Well being Middle, Forest Hills Monetary Group, Arthur Ashe Institute for City Well being and Miss Jessie’s, LLC.
“We’re happy to acknowledge the numerous extraordinary achievements of the Caribbean Individuals we’re honoring tonight, who proceed to considerably affect life in the US, significantly New York,” stated Victoria Schneps-Yunis, CEO and writer of Schneps Media, Caribbean Life’s guardian firm.
“These hard-working and devoted people have been so profitable as a result of they’ve a ardour for what they do,” she added. “They’ve positioned themselves as main gamers, who’ve positively influenced our metropolis daily. It’s my privilege to honor them tonight.”
Schneps-Yunis additionally gave a “particular thanks” to the sponsors, who made it potential to current the night’s gala.
Amanda Tarley, director of Variety, Fairness and Inclusion Occasions and Applications at Schneps Media, who coordinated the spectacular occasion, stated it was “an honor to share a room with everybody right here tonight.
“Caribbean Life has been a staple and a neighborhood supply for information, politics, leisure, and extra for Caribbean Individuals in New York Metropolis for over three a long time,” she stated. “Yearly, we sit up for bringing this occasion to you.”
Tarley congratulated the 2025 honorees, thanking them for his or her “infinite efforts” and asking patrons to applaud present and previous honorees.
“It’s thrilling to see many acquainted faces and the extent of assist we now have for each other within the room tonight,” she stated.
Basir Khan, proprietor, 7 Park Avenue Meals, obtained the annual TD Financial institution Excellent Entrepreneur Award; and Rowtas “Roger” Singh, group engagement specialist, Emblem Well being, obtained the Group Healthcare Award, sponsored by Emblem Well being.
The opposite honorees have been:
Paula B. Bailey, government vice chairman, Grant Associates;
Sabita Balloo, president, Sabita Balloo Revenue Tax Companies;
Astrid S. Benjamin-Campbell, president, Tobago Empowerment & Alliance Mission, Inc.;
Patrick Buddington, senior vice chairman, Enterprise Improvement, IMC Media, Inc.;
Dorrette Brown, monetary coach, Forest Hills Monetary Group;
Judaline Cassidy, founder & chief visionary officer,
Instruments & Tiaras, Inc.; Robert G. Chin, MD, FACEP, chief, Emergency Companies, NYC Well being + Hospitals/Woodhull;
Antoine Craigwell, president & CEO, DBGM, Inc.;
Dr. Marilyn Fraser, chief government officer, Arthur Ashe Institute for City Well being;
Marie Gallant, director of nursing, Joseph P. Addabbo Household Well being Middle;
Pheona Grant, well being middle director, Solar River Well being;
Kerry-Ann Henry, fundraiser/philanthropist/humanitarian
Dr. Suzanne Jones, CUNY LEADS co-chair, Metropolis College of New York – Queensborough Group Faculty;
Kimaada Le Gendre, director of training & group engagement, Queens Museum;
Pierre M. Loiseau, youth empowerment director, Queens District Legal professional’s Workplace;
Xiomara L. Maloney, president of Assistant Deputy Warden/Deputy Warden Affiliation (Warden Stage 1), NYC Division of Correction;
The Maloney Brothers, Dominic, Nicholas and Daniel Maloney, homeowners, Sol Cacao;
Anthea McLaughlin, CEO, Caribbean Philanthropic Alliance;
Det. LaToya McLeod, Group Affairs Part – Housing Division, New York Police Division;
Christine Noel-Horsford, director of gross sales, USA, Grenada Tourism Authority;
Haslyn Anson Peters, airline pilot (JetBlue Airways), and founder, Harpy Eagles Pathways;
Dr. Ronda E. Phillips, government director, Group Faculty District 23, New York Metropolis Public Faculties;
Ovington Prophete, co-founder/COO, The Insurance coverage and Actual Property Useful resource Middle;
Marcia Rowe-Riddick Youngster, government director, Youngster Improvement Assist Company;
Doris Rodney, proprietor, Hills Restaurant and Bar;
Dr. Anju J Rupchandani, government director, Zone 126;
Tricia Singh, chief administrative officer, WellLife Community;
Deborah M. Steer, assistant director of Built-in Care, Amida Care;
Joel Mario Thomas, director of training and coaching, America Works of New York, Inc.;
Jennifer O. Thomas, director, Simply A’s Daycare/Tutoring Middle;
Daybreak S. Walker, MPA, vice chairman, Communications & Advertising, SUNY Downstate Well being Sciences College;
Michael O. T. Vincent, president, Grenada Cultural Competition Group, Inc.;
Dr. Fabienne Gaillard Ulysse, DNP, AOCNP, ANP-BC, FAAN, assistant vice chairman of nursing, Maimonides Well being;
Keisha-Ann Knowledge, DHA, MBA, BSN, RN, NEA-BC, senior vice chairman of affected person providers & chief nursing officer, Episcopal Well being Companies;
Dr. Jermaine A. Wright, vice chairman for pupil affairs, Lehman Faculty, The Metropolis College of New York.
Native Tobagonians Samuel Clarke and Angela Cooper served as Grasp and Mistress of Ceremonies, respectively. Cooper additionally sang the Nationwide Anthem.
Trinidadian Natalie Baker-Waterman, from TD Financial institution, offered Khan with the TD Financial institution Excellent Entrepreneur Award, saying she was “honored” to take action and to be a part of the gala.
Khan, 75, reciprocated by thanking TD Financial institution and Caribbean Life.
Earlier, in the course of the red-carpet ceremony, he stated he was nonetheless gainfully employed.
“In case you can, increase a hand for somebody who wants assist,” Khan stated. “Maintain working onerous; nothing comes simple.”
Guyanese-born Ann-Marie Adamson-Serieux of EmblemHealth offered the Group Healthcare Award to Singh, who danced his strategy to the stage, to the delight of ebullient patrons.
Adamson-Serieux stated Singh has been by her facet, stating that she appreciated “this wonderful gentleman.”
Later, she advised Caribbean Life that Singh “builds relations in all layers of the group.
“He’s top-of-the-line within the area,” she stated. “He’s a tremendous, wonderful group organizer.”
After exhibiting his particular dance, Singh advised the ceremony briefly: “I’m definitely excited to be right here.”
Earlier, in the course of the red-carpet ceremony, Singh stated EmblemHealth is “dedicated to assist the group, particularly the Caribbean Group.
“We come from totally different international locations, however we present up,” he stated.
Trinidadian Marcus Gonzales, TD Financial institution who sponsored Khan and the Maloney Brothers, stated: “It’s an excellent factor that we spotlight a whole lot of these honorees. Congratulations and sustain the nice work!”
Renee Hastick-Motes, the newly-appointed CEO of Joseph P. Addabbo Household Well being Middle, stated Thursday evening’s celebration was “a major acknowledgement of the affect that Caribbeans make all through New York Metropolis.”
She stated over 50 % of the staff at her middle are Caribbean nationals.
“We are going to at all times have fun the great contributions they make locally,” stated Hastick-Motes, the daughter of Dr. Roy Hastick, the Grenadian-born, late founder and president of the Brooklyn-based Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Business (CACCI).
Jamaican-born honoree Keisha-Ann Knowledge of Episcopal Well being Companies stated it was “an ideal occasion that basically highlights the contributions of Caribbean folks to our group.”
Through the red-carpet ceremony, she stated her secret weapon was “to remain humble and always remember my roots, that are in Jamaica.”
Kerry-Ann Henry, who travels yearly to Jamaica in offering humanitarian assist, stated she was “humbled” to obtain the Affect Award.
“I’m a philanthropist, so I’m very humbled,” she stated.
Guyanese Haslyn Anson Peters stated he was additionally humbled to be honored.
“It’s very humbling,” he stated. “That is positively an honor.
“I esteem this award extremely,” she added, thanking “all people who made it potential for me to be right here as we speak.”
Trinidadian Joel Mario Thomas America Works of New York, Inc stated it was “an ideal honor to be acknowledged amongst different Caribbean leaders in New York Metropolis.
“The Caribbean presence has been long-standing and dynamic from the early 1900s to as we speak,” he stated. “It’s actually an honor of us to share that heritage and to know what it’s prefer to make two locations your own home.”
In sharing two tables with household, buddies and supporters, Guyanese-American Pheona Grant, Solar River Well being, a Canarsie, Brooklyn resident, exclaimed: “Fantastic! Fantastic! First time successful Caribbean Life Award.
“I’m blissful to be surrounded by so many individuals who make a distinction locally, and I’m very blissful to share with my household and buddies,” added Grant, who was born in Brooklyn. Her father, popularly generally known as “Grantie,” who was sitting at considered one of her tables, is a former Guyanese youth quick bowler in cricket.
“I consider it’s a blessing to be honored with one thing, when you can obtain the glory,” Pheona stated.
Through the red-carpet ceremony, Christine Noel-Horsford, stated she is “accountable for sending enterprise to Grenada.
“My (late) mother used to say, ‘you come from humble beginnings,’” stated the director of gross sales, U.S.A., Grenada Tourism Authority. “However she at all times stated to ‘nurture your goals.’”
If you want to appoint or be part of subsequent 12 months’s Caribbean Affect Awards, contact Tarley at 718-249-9640, or e-mail:
