Staff WriterThe Atlanta Jamaican Association, Inc, (AJA) recently launched its official celebrations in recognition of its 42 years of service and the 57thAnniversary of Jamaica’s Independence, appropriately themed “One Nation, One People”. The highlight of the celebrations will be the Annual Independence Ball and Scholarship Awards, a black-tie affair to be held at our new venue the Atlanta Marriott Marquis, 265 Peachtree Center Avenue NE, Atlanta, Georgia on Saturday, August 10th from 6:00 PM to 1: 30 AM. This annual premier event held in collaboration with the AJ Cultural & Educational Fund, is always eagerly anticipated. Get your tickets early for what is bound to be a sold-out and memorable event.
For starters, our Consul General of Jamaica to the Southern USA, the Bahamas and the Cayman Islands, Honorable Oliver Mair, will bring us greetings. Honorable Mair is an engaging and dynamic leader with over 20 years experience working in travel and tourism, entertainment, agro-processing and real estate industries in Jamaica. He served as producer and writer at Laugh It Off Productions and produced a nine time nominated Actor Boy play which had a successful nine month run. He also performed with the Jamaica Musical Theatre Company and the University Singers. The night promises to be quite entertaining with our event MC, Jamaica’s famous and beloved Comedian and Actor Oliver Samuels, best known for his very funny television series, “Oliver”, “Oliver at Large” and “Large and in Charge”. Scholarships will be awarded to fifteen superbly qualified and deserving college-bound students from various high schools in metro Atlanta and Jamaica. Music to dance the night away will be provided by New York City Premier Reggae Band Inner Roots, with Mikey Sparkle Production. Our fundraising raffle has some awesome prizes which will be drawn at the event. Event sponsors are Tower Isles, Panton Equity Partners, The Jamaica Tourist Board, PNC Bank Grace Foods, Caribbean International Shipping Services, Ronica Brown Agency and GB Roofing, Inc.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.atlantajamaicanassociation.org or from AJA members. Individual ticket prices are $100, and a table of 10 is $950. Proceeds from the Ball will benefit the Scholarship and Building Funds and the many charitable programs and services that AJA spearheads or supports in metro Atlanta and Jamaica.
This year the AJA has awarded fifteen scholarships to students from the metro Atlanta area and Jamaica. The scholarship award recipients from metro Atlanta are: Robert Cranston, Spencer Ford, Janelle Patricia James, Aryanna Peters, Chaz Pitter, Xamaria Samuels, Monique Schloss and Noah Williams. The recipients from Jamaica are: Rohaneshe Boothe, Shantelee Bull, Melissa Cummings, Tishinana Fearon, Rhenielia Lowe, Romel McKenzie and Markeeno Salmon. Since the inception of its Scholarship Program, the AJA has provided more than $100,000 in college scholarship awards to students in Jamaica and in the metro Atlanta area.
The AJA is looking forward to having your support. Please contact our secretary Ms. Ann-Marie Rose at [email protected] or 404-436-1427. Visit us atwww.atlantajamaicanassociation.org to purchase your ball tickets and for more information about the AJA and our annual events.
Book your overnight accommodations for August 10th at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis at the special rate of $119.00 by calling 844-384-0657. This rate is valid until July 30th.
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The mission of the AJA is to foster and promote goodwill and understanding among Jamaicans and all peoples in and around metro Atlanta and to provide assistance to Jamaicans and others in metro Atlanta and Jamaica. We invite you to visit our website at www.atlantajamaicanassociation.org to learn more about how you can become a member and join us in our commitment to uphold with dignity both the Jamaican Motto “Out of Many One People” and the AJA motto “Together in Harmony”.
Media Writer
