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COJO Summer Soiree scores

Published:Sunday | August 5, 2018 | 12:00 AM
Contributed
Gary Williams (left), chairman of Children of Jamaica Outreach (COJO), and Patricia Chin (right), co-founder of VP Records, with Sydjea Anderson (second left) and Carol Harvey, sister and mother of Prime Minister Andrew Holness, at the COJO 2018 Summer Soiree in New York on July 21, 2018.

Patrons to the Children of Jamaica (COJO) 2018 Summer Soiree enjoyed the long-awaited warm weather, beautiful fashions and delectable food and drink with a definite 'Jamaican accent'.

Hosted as usual by gracious Jamaica-born Vilma and Dalbert Daley in the spacious backyard of their Jamaica Estate home, the event brought out the Jamaican and Caribbean diaspora from in and around Queens, Long Island, and neighbouring communities.

COJO Chairman Gary Williams was on hand to greet them and to thank them for their continued patronage and support for COJO, whose fundraising events provide former wards of children's homes in Jamaica with scholarships to tertiary institutions.

Fashion show curator Jonniest Wiltshire presented a thoughtful selection from her Signature Closet Boutique which had patrons placing orders after the show.

The Door strengthened its position as one of the best Jamaican restaurants in New York with a spread which included jerked chicken, callaloo pot stickers, pasta and 'rummy' rum cake, and their famous lemonade/ginger drink and ginger beer.

Iberia Foods and GraceKennedy with their Tropical Rhythms brand were the perfect complement for the Jamaican fare.

The event closed with the much-anticipated annual benefit raffle draw with its prizes of travel certificates, courtesy of COJO preferred airline JetBlue, and accommodation at some of Jamaica's premier hotels.

Among the winners were:

• Grand Prize: Scott Widmeyer - 6-day/5-night stay for two at any Sandals Resort in Jamaica with two roundtrip tickets, courtesy of JetBlue.

• 2nd Prize: Laxhmi Singh - 4-day/3-night stay for two at Grand Palladium Resort & Spa with two roundtrip tickets on JetBlue.

• 3rd Prize: Michael Recene - 4-day/3-night stay for two at Melia Braco Village with two roundtrip tickets on JetBlue.

• Consolation Prize: Ms Grimmond - 4-day/3-night stay for two adults and two children (16 years and under) at FDR Resort & Spa.

In addition, Jeffrey Stoney won a gate prize of a JetBlue certificate for travel to any JetBlue destination.

Thanking JetBlue and the hotels for their donated prizes, Williams said "these are not just partners, this is the COJO family working together to benefit Jamaica's children".