The Caribbean American Cultural Arts Foundation Raised $25,000 for Hurricane Recovery Efforts

ATLANTA - June 25, 2018 - PRLog -- The Inaugural Captains of Industry Awards presented by The Caribbean American Cultural Arts Foundation (CACAF) on Saturday, June 23, 2018 raised more than $25,000 to support Caribbean hurricane recovery efforts and educational mentorship programs for deserving young people. The successful sold-out event took place at the opulent Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta and welcomed more than 200 guests.

The evening delivered on the vitality, culture and elegance of the Caribbean and highlighted the excellence displayed across the diaspora. The Foundation honored six Captains of Industry recipients, all of which are of Caribbean descent. They included; Alrene Richards-Barr, Director of International Business Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Andrew R. Davis, Chief Global Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Coca Cola, Egbert L.J. Perry, CEO, Integral Group LLC, Erika Y. Mitchell, Atlanta Board of Education District 5, Simone Edwards, Author & First Jamaican WNBA Player & Yvette Thomas-Henry, General Manager, Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta. "The event was a complete success on many levels, the Caribbean community stood united on Saturday, it was the beginning of a new revolution for the Caribbean American community, said Michael Thomas, CACAF Chairman."

The foundation plans to cement the work and legacy of the honorees by collaborating with the next generation of Caribbean global leaders, "Our goal is to create a space for future Captains of Industry and expose them to the current power houses that are transforming the world around them," said Thomas, "We want them to carry on the baton and leave their mark on our global village." The Captains of Industry honorees were celebrated alongside more than a dozen Caribbean American community service organizations who gallantly led the effort to recover following a brutal 2017 hurricane season.

The celebration provided a platform for the incredible talent and undeniable heart to serve that comes from the Caribbean American community. Renee Knorr, Production Director & CEO of the ReKnorr Group said, "Unity was strengthened Saturday night by the Caribbean American Cultural Arts Foundation for the launch of the Captains of Industry Awards. Where there is passion, purpose and love for one cause, wonderful things can be achieved. The event was a great success because we were all pushed to go where we didn't know we could. That's the beauty of collaboration."

Master of Ceremonies and Radio Personality, Chubb Rock, brought the house down with laughter, poignant reflection and anecdotes from his own Caribbean upbringing. Rock underscored the importance of the cause and the wealth of resources and power available within the Caribbean American community. The unforgettable evening was broadcasted to more than 100-thousand listeners throughout the lesser Antilles via WSTA Radio which covers the U.S. Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Antigua, St. Kitts and Anguilla. Reggae Star, Pressure, Artist, Styleon Garvey, Junkanoo Performers and Violinist Omar Byron energized guests with commanding performances.

The celebration was not possible without the support of sponsors; the Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Infiniti South Atlanta, Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery, Bahamas Tourism, U.S.V.I. Department of Tourism, Prima, The ReKnorr Group, Cyndi Willis, Paul Mitchell, OUI OUI, Unique Flavor Tea, GCSA, Grace, Regency Fine Arts, CMNUSA.

The Caribbean American Cultural Arts Foundation continues to seek the support of sponsors, donors and volunteers. CACAF was founded in 2016 by Michael Thomas. Since then, the foundation has established programs that have fed hurricane evacuees, offered resources toward recovery and gathered strategic support before disaster strikes. The fund has supported educational mentorship programs for young people seeking higher education and projects that have promoted workforce and skills development. In addition, the foundation has been committed to the study, advancement and presentation of Caribbean arts, culture and humanities. To learn more about the work of the Caribbean American Cultural Arts Foundation, visit www.caribbeanculturalarts.org.