Fourteen people will be honoured at this year's Florida-based People Profile Awards, whose proceeds will go towards the refurbishing of a primary school in Jamaica – with another eight people set to be awarded for their community service as part of the activities to celebrate Jamaica's 60th anniversary of independence.
The awards (in its seventh year) at the Broward Performing Arts Amatura Theatre in Florida, United States, sees proceeds from the affair used to continue the refurbishing of the Whitfield Town Primary School in Kingston. Funds from past awards have been used to build a music room at the school.
Of the awards, founder and President of the People Profile Awards, Dr Allan Cunningham, said: “This year's awards will be significant as it coincides with activities to celebrate Jamaica's diamond jubilee as an independent nation. They are designed to recognise the contributions of people across a wide spectrum of our community who are giving of their time and efforts to improve the lives of their fellow citizens and improve communities.”
The top award, the Lifetime Achievement Award, will be presented to Beverley Evans Smith, the 2017-2021 national president and CEO for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., one of America's largest minority female-owned and operated public service non-profits. Jamaica's sprint legend Veronica Campbell-Brown won the award last year. Beverly Evans Smith
Smith is the recipient of numerous awards and currently holds various civic positions including being a board member for the National Council of Negro Women and the Delta Research and Education Foundation. She also serves on the Bowling Green State University (Ohio) Student Affairs Leadership Council.
Smith retired from the Technical College System of Georgia as the assistant commissioner and Georgia State Director for Adult Education and GED Testing in 2018. As an entrepreneur, she is senior vice-president of The HR Group Inc., a management consulting firm she has co-owned with her husband, Stephen, for 30 years. She spent 18 years in leadership positions with AT&T (Southern Bell).
Also being honoured are former Calabar High athlete Daniel England as the sports leader of the year; Hugh Ferguson, media personality of the year; Fred Christian – humanitarian of the year; Dr. Debbie Goodman as educator of the year and Khalid Mahmood as community leader of the year.
England, who was known at 'Little Warrior' at high school because of his height, was dominant in the 200m and 400m during the 1980s. He lost one race in his five years competing at the high school championships.
He has built a career in coaching.
Among those being awarded as part of the celebration of Jamaica's 60th independence anniversary are former mayor Dale Holness, Mayor Hazelle Rogers, David Muir and Carl brown.
The People Profile Awards is in its seventh year.
