Anchor Awards

Third Annual ACMF Gala & Anchor Awards celebrate the Spirit of Maritime

The American Caribbean Maritime Foundation (ACMF) held its annual Gala and Anchor Awards ceremony on 2 October. This year, though, this was virtual event this year in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Under the theme “The Spirit of Maritime”, the online Gala and awards brought together patrons and stakeholders in the maritime sector to inspire giving and hope. The Anchor Awards celebrate shipping and maritime industry professionals who have contributed significantly to the growth and development of the sector in the Caribbean region. This year’s honorees were H. Winchester Thurber, Chairman, Norton Lilly International one of the largest providers of agency services in North America; and Richard Sasso, executive chairman, MSC Cruises USA and Ambassador of the MSC Foundation in the Americas.

Proud

Ahead of the event, Captain Remy Vyzelman, president of Integra Marine and Freight Services and ACMF 2020 Gala Chair said: “We are very proud to be honoring Win Thurber and Rick Sasso, two individuals who combined have given almost a century of dedicated leadership to the maritime sector.”

Since its inception, and with the generous support of global partners and donors, the ACMF has pursued its mission to provide opportunities for educational empowerment and future employment for Caribbean nationals within the logistics and shipping sector – a sector critical to the region’s growth and development.

Learning

“The Covid-19 pandemic has moved learning online and this has placed students in the region at even greater risk of falling behind in their studies due to lack of computers and internet access, particularly in rural and poorer locales. I can’t think of a time when the urgency to support our youth is greater than now especially as we seek to bridge this glaring digital divide which has made online instruction a challenging prospect,” said Dr Geneive Brown Metzger, ACMF’s President and Executive Director.

The funds raised through the Gala will support ACMF’s mission and serve to provide scholarships as well as critically needed educational resources to enable the most vulnerable youth to realize their potential and uplift local communities.

About the ACMF

The American Caribbean Maritime Foundation (ACMF) is committed to alleviating poverty, providing employment opportunities and transforming lives in the Caribbean through maritime education and community development. The ACMF recognizes that the maritime industry has a critical and unique role to play in reducing poverty, addressing gender equality issues, and spurring economic growth in the Caribbean. The organization’s core activities are focused on raising funds for scholarships, equipment, facilities and infrastructure and supporting the development of the maritime communities within the Caribbean region. The ACMF collaborates with maritime educational institutions including the Caribbean Maritime University (Jamaica), University of Trinidad & Tobago, and the LJM Maritime Academy (The Bahamas).