Make a Difference - The Peacock Ball

The 4th Annual Peacock Ball was held Saturday May 10th, 2008 at the Ritz Carlton, Coconut Grove in Miami Florida. The annual event is hosted by the American Friends of Jamaica and includes a Gala and silent Auction. The American Friends of Jamaica organization consists of a group of Jamaican and American business persons, social sector leaders, political figures, and members of the diplomatic corp who come together to strategical connect resources from North American to Jamaica. To date, the organization has helped send over $11 Million in donations to Jamaican charities benefiting the educational, health, and economic sectors. In short, the AFJ helps to raise funds and overseas that they are deposited to the necessary recipients. The organization also honors extraordinary people with their International Humanitarian Award. One of this year's award recipients was Father Richard Ho Lung, founder of the Missionaries of the Poor based in Kingston. I was lucky enough to experience Father Ho Lung in his fundraising mission firsthand by attending a lovely concert of Jamaican musicians at a local church in Atlanta. Past honorees have included Chris Blackwell, American fashion icon Ralph Lauren and his wife, Ricky, Rep. Charles Rangel of New York, Sandals' founder Gordon "Butch" Stewart, Canada's Michael Lee-Chin, the Jamaican-born billionaire, philanthropist, and high-profile investor, GraceKennedy, Former President Ronald Reagan and Diageo, to name a few.