(Los Angeles, CA – June 21, 2017) –It was a full house on Saturday, June 17, at the Hilton Universal Studios in Hollywood, CA as the Caribbean Heritage Organization (CHO) celebrated Caribbean-American Heritage Month with their annual Salute to Hollywood & Excellence gala.
Hosted by CBS’ The Price is Right model Gwendolyn Osborne-Smith, the event also served as the closing of the 2017 CaribbeanLens International Film Festival.
The evening celebrated honorees Anna Maria Horsford of CBS’ The Bold and The Beautiful who received CHO’s Life Achievement Award and Grace Byers of Fox’ Empire was bestowed the Rising Sun Award.
The Circle of Excellence Awardees were Jasmine Turner, Caribbean beauty queen and wealth manager at UBS Financial Services, The Hon. Roland Yorke, Consul General of Belize to Los Angeles and Children of the Caribbean’s, Julien Adams & Rosie Hodge-Adams.
The event also marked the inaugural Robert Nesta Marley Humanitarian Award. Karen Marley, daughter of the late great reggae super star and Judah, Gideon and Abraham, his grandchildren and Ziggy Marley’s children, were on hand to present the awards to Yard Life’s Shane Morgan and Romaine Sabukie Allen and Grammy Award-winning Rapper, Filmmaker and Activist, Pras.
“Hill & Gully,” the urban Cinderella story by filmmaker Patrice Johnson was awarded best film. Michael Q. Ceballos’ “Maisa the Chamoru Girl who Saves Guåhan,” got the Best Animation nod. Lemo Coney who used comedy in “It’s Only Renee” to bring awareness to the homeless was awarded Best Comedy. Best Cinematography was given to Elvin Diaz’ Haiti- DR Binational Market and through story and dance, Peter Chin & Jeremy Mimnagh’s “Jamaican” journeys through Jamaica and Central America to explore what is a Jamaican, was awarded best documentary. Forgiveness was the theme of Best Inspirational, “70 x Seven,” by Judith Fallon-Reid.
About the Caribbean Heritage Organization
The Caribbean Heritage Organization (CHO) was formed in January 2007 to celebrate the rich and diverse contributions of Caribbean people, Caribbean-Americans and friends of the Caribbean to international society through conservation and education of Caribbean arts and culture. CHO also produces the annual CaribbeanLens International Film & Art Festival “Where Hollywood Celebrates the Caribbean™.” CHO is a 501 (c) (3) entity.
Meet the Smiths – Host Gwendolyn Osborne-Smith surrounded by Hubby NBA’s Kenny ” The Jet” Smith and children KJ and Monique
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Honoree Anna Maria Horsford
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Honoree The Hon. Roland Yorke Surrounded by Family and Friends
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Honoree Jasmine Turner
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Robert Nesta Marley Humanitarian Award Recipients Shane Morgan and Romaine Allen of Life Yard with Rapper & Activist Pras
Honoree Grace Byers |
Honorees Julien & Rosie Adams
Co-founders, Children of the Caribbean
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Karen Marley With Nephews and Bob Marley’s Grandchildren Judah, Gideon & Abraham (Ziggy Marley’s children) with CHO’s Founder & Executive Director Marva Griffiths Herman
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2017 CaribbeanLens Best Picture Hill & Gully’s Patrice Johnson
