Published:Sunday | November 16, 2014 | 12:00 AM
NEW YORK:
A little more than 450 Jamaicans and friends of Jamaica attended the Fourth Annual Black Tie Gala of the New Jersey-based Help Jamaica Medical Mission (HelpJAMM), at the Hanover Manor in East Hanover, New Jersey (NJ), last Saturday night.
The NJ HelpJAMM has as its theme, ‘Health care for Every Living Person in Jamaica’ and is committed to providing quality health care to the medically disadvantaged in Jamaica and New Jersey.
Help Jamaica’s vice-president for finance and fund-raising, Dr Robert Clarke, noted that the event is the major fundraiser for the organisation and that the funds from the event go towards purchasing medication, glasses and other medical equipment which are distributed during their annual health-and-wellness fair each year in Jamaica. He also announced that the association has adopted the Linstead Hospital.
ent go
towards purchasing medication, glasses and other medical equipment which
are distributed during their annual health-and-wellness fair each year
in Jamaica. He also announced that the association has adopted the
Linstead Hospital.
The HelpJAMM president explained
that, during their mission to Jamaica in September, they treated more
than 5,000 patients, distributed 1,000 pairs of glasses, and donated
medical supplies costing more than US$20,000.
Guest
speaker Health Minister Dr Fenton Ferguson lauded HelpJAMM for providing
quality health care to the medically disadvantaged in Jamaica and New
Jersey. “Jamaicans at home proudly appreciate the dedication and the
determination the organisation has shown by providing free health care
year after year and willingly giving back to your country”, Dr Ferguson
said.
The organisation also presented the Community
Award to Norma Russell, and the Humanitarian Award was presented to
Sonia Scott.
After the formalities, patrons took to
the dance floor until the wee hours of the morning, dancing to the sound
of DJ Lando Hype after enjoying a sumptuous meal.
The
soirée brought guests from Maryland, Connecticut, Buffalo, New York and
New Jersey. Among those in attendance were Health Minister Dr Fenton
Ferguson, Ambassador Curtis Ward and his wife; president of the Jamaican
and American Association of Buffalo, Dr Charles Anderson, and his wife,
Beverly; president of the National Association of Jamaican and
Supportive Organisations, Rick Nugent; former fundraising chair for the
Caribbean Medical Mission, Lynval James; Caribbean Airlines’ Kaye Chung,
as well as president of the Caribbean Medical Mission, Dr Winston
Scott, and his wife.
Photos by Derrick Scott