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Pajacam Awards
Dec 4, 2004
Le Cordon Bleu, Woodhaven, NY
PAJACAM, Inc. Friends of the Bella Vista Girls Home is a not-for-profit organization formulated to address the economic, social and medical needs of selected domestic and international organizations. It was founded in 1998. The organization first began with such beneficiaries as the Bella Vista Girls Home in Panama, Republic of Panama, the Sickle Cell Trust Council in Mona, Jamaica WI, and later on, expanded to include the Templo Calvario Christian Center in Colon, Republic of Panama. Another benefit program of PAJACAM is its scholarship program. The celebration was wonderful. It honored those women who had truly dedicated a sizeable portion of their lives to Pajacam’s cause.
This festive program began with a warm welcome by Lilias Edwards-Douglas, Vice President of PAJACAM, Inc, after which the guest speaker, Panama Vice Council member Cynthia Brown Franklin, gave everyone a brief overview of the reason everyone was there—a celebration of the dedication of two very important people who have devoted much of their time and energies toward improving the community. We listened to a most thoughtful invocation by Paster Guillermo Martino, and then to the Master of Ceremony, Mr. Jose Brereton.
Everyone was entertained by a traditional folklore dance—two folk dancers dressed in the most festive of costumes. Everyone applauded. Dr. Carlos E. Russell spoke and presented the awards to the honorees.
The first honoree was Former New York City Council member Una S.T.-Clarke, who is also the first Caribbean born woman elected to the city’s legislature. Ms. Clarke is a proven and dedicated leader whose hard work and tireless advocacy have brought remarkable changes to her community. Since her election in 1991, Councilmember Clarke sponsored more than 300 pieces of legislation on a wide range of issues including child welfare, education, mental health and economic opportunity. She served on the City Council Committees on Aging, Youth Services and Economic Development, Health and chaired the Council’s Subcommittee on Mental Health, Mental Retardation, Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services. She also served on the committee on General Welfare (Human Services) and was member of the Council’s Black and Hispanic Caucus.
Ms. Clarke’s honoring was followed by another equally worth honoree, the late Ms. Sarah Anesta Samuel, the founder of “The Dedicators, Inc.” During her life, Ms. Samuel was an a active member of various organizations throughout her lifetime, who's third most prominent passion was “The Dedicators” (next to her faith in God and love for family.) Ms. Samuel commitment to community service was truly symbolized by her life. Her organization has done everything from host bake sales and arts and crafts sales at churches or in their homes to run fundraisers to generate funds for one or two $500 scholarships annually. Ms. Samuel had moved on to larger dinner dances and cotillion balls, which she held at prestigious. Her organization began in 1953 with the mission of determining a way of assisting students who want to obtain a higher education, but did not have the financial means of doing so. IT was first called “las servidoras”, and was later renamed “Dedicators, Inc.”
A scholarship award was presented to Veronica Russell Thorpe. There was also a vocalist, Ms. Alice Tan Riddley, who did a wonderful presentation of “Stand by me.” Closing remarks were made by Selwin D. King, the President of PAJACAM, and the benediction was delivered by Pastor Guillermo Martino.
This was a wonderful event. We at Liberty News Online Magazine would like to thank and Mr. Selwyn D. King, President of PAJACAM, Inc. and Ms. Lilias Douglas, Vice President of PAJACAM, Inc., for their kind invitation. Anyone who would like more information about PAJACAM, Inc., may visit their website at www.pajacam.org.
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The African American and Caribbean Section is headed by assistant editor Annette Johnson, and Liberty News Online Staff Writers contributing articles. It will cover articles about the African American and Caribbean communities throughout the U.S.A. For more information, feel free to email us at lncarib@hadofnyc.org. If you are interested in having us cover one of your events, feel free to notify us one week in advance, so we can add you to our master calendar, and have our Liberty News Staff come and write an article about your event. Feel free to email us at lnevents@hadofnyc.org, or telephone us at (718) 507-7616 between the hours of 8:00am and 8:00pm, and ask to speak to Annette or Steve