Tourism Minister to Address Charity Gala in NYC

Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, will deliver the keynote address at the 14th Annual Scholarship Gala of the New York-based Children of Jamaica Outreach (COJO) Inc., on Saturday, December 6.
The event will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, at LaGuardia Airport in Queens, NY, U.S.A., beginning at 9:00 p.m. This year’s gala is being held under the patronage of Jamaica’s Consul General to New York, Geneive Brown Metzger, and will provide Mr. Bartlett with an opportunity to address members of the Diaspora. Minister Bartlett has often stressed the importance of this group to the success of Jamaica’s tourism promotion.
The Annual Scholarship Gala is COJO’s major fundraiser held on the first Saturday in December of each year, from which proceeds are used to provide scholarships for deserving students who are in need. Over the past decade, the volunteer-driven organisation has supported a number of institutions in Jamaica and the United States. Among them are the Alpha Boys’ Home; Glenhope Place of Safety; Marigold Child Care Centre; Musgrave Girls’ Home and City of Refuge in Jamaica; and in New York, the Jamaica, Queens YMCA, and Leaf of Life Foundation.
Founder and Chairman of COJO, Gary Williams, said that despite the challenging economic times, it is heartening to see companies and individuals still making a contribution towards enhancing the future. He adds that COJO has also sought to embrace information technology, and is this year accepting online donations.
A number of corporate entities including JetBlue, have donated airline tickets as raffle prizes, with Half Moon, Ritz Carlton, Grand Bahia Principe, Sandals, and other Jamaican properties providing hotel accommodation. Tickets for the gala are on sale now and can be obtained by contacting the Children of Jamaica Outreach (COJO) office at 1-888- 275-0121.