By Lincoln DePradine

Many young and bright Caribbean men and women – eager to obtain a university education at the region’s premier tertiary institution, but without the financial means to do so – will now have their dreams come true.

They will be the beneficiaries of University of the West Indies (UWI) scholarships, through money raised last month at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Toronto.

Organizers of the 2024 UWI Toronto Benefit Awards said it netted close to $450,000. 

“Through sponsorship, ticket sales, live auction, silent auction and personal pledges, funds have been raised to enable Caribbean students to pursue higher education,’’ said Elizabeth Buchanan-Hind, who described education as “the pathway to success’’.

Buchanan-Hind is executive director of UWI’s Institutional Advancement Division. 

This year marked the 15th annual edition of the UWI Benefit Awards in Toronto.

“Lighting the Way Together’’ was the theme of the event that was attended by 450 guests from the world of executive level business, public personalities and community leaders.

Scotiabank has been the “Lead Sponsor’’ of the gala fundraiser. Since the inception of the event, 850 scholarships have been provided to UWI students.

“We are extremely grateful for the generosity of the attendees, many who return year after year for a night of elegance, inspiration and camaraderie,” Buchanan-Hind said.

UWI, ranked number one among more than 200 universities in the Caribbean – and in the top three percent of the best universities in the world – has 50,000 students spread across its various island campuses. It also has partnerships with other universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe.

The University of the West Indies is “the engine of Caribbean development and a force for democratic justice’’, said UWI vice-chancellor, Sir Hilary Beckles, in remarks at last month’s fundraising gala and awards’ presentation.

“We are an elite university in this hemisphere, in this world; but I should hasten to add that we are not an elitist university,’’ said Beckles, a 1980 PhD graduate from the University of Hull. He also possesses honourary doctorates from Canada-based Brock University and the University of the Virgin Islands.

Beckles, vice-chancellor since 2015, said as a university, UWI exists “for the upliftment of the poor’’ and the “empowerment of the historically disenfranchised’’.

This year’s gala honoured seven “Canadian Trailblazers’’, who also were called “brilliant north stars’’ and “a beacon of hope in these dark and uncertain times’’ by Dr Donette Chin-Loy Chang, co-patron of the 2024 Benefit Awards.

The “Vice Chancellor’s Award’’ was to retired Canadian citizenship court judge, Dr. Pamela Appelt; BMO Bank of Montreal executive, Stanley J. Julien; philanthropist Deland Kamanga, who also is a financial specialist and group head with BMO Wealth Management; and to human rights activist Dr. Claudette McGowan, who is chief executive officer Protexxa, a global cybersecurity firm.

Justice Hugh L. Fraser, an arbitrator and human rights activist, received the “Luminary Award’’; Raj Kothari, a business leader and humanitarian, was presented with the G. Raymond Chang Award; and, Air Canada received the “Chancellor’s Award’’.