Comets Club International (CCI), a New York City-based charitable organization, will recognize two individuals for their outstanding contribution and commitment to community development through education, culture and business.
CCI will present awards and citations to entrepreneur Roland Brammer for his work with several organizations, focusing on youth, while Richie Stephens, cultural ambassador-at-large, gets the nod for his steadfast love for country through his music and mentorship.
The awards ceremony highlights the organization’s annual reunion dinner, which will take place this year at the Venetian Terrace Ballroom, 86-15 114th Street (corner of Jamaica Avenue), in Richmond Hill, Queens, N.Y, on Saturday, April 14. Start time is set for 9:00 p.m.
A Brooklyn resident, Brammer’s credits include two Subway Restaurant franchises in Brooklyn, N.Y., a tax accounting practice and a journalist. He will be presented with the CCI CODPAR (Community Development Partnership) Award – National Class – for his work with the Union of Jamaican Alumni Associations (USA), Inc., and the NAACP NYC ACT-SO Program.
“Being able to mentor the students who come through the UJAA (USA), Inc., High School Graduates Awards program and the NAACP Olympics of the Mind (ACT-SO) program here in the City, mirror my youth, growing up in Kingston, Jamaica, and so I’m extremely honored to be recognized by the Comets Club International,” noted Brammer, a Jamaica College (JC) alum and one time assistant editor with the Weekly Gleaner, NA.
Stephens, who last year turned tragedy (death of his son) into triumph with not one but two, top ten singles, has already earned his place alongside the icons of the reggae genre. As a cultural ambassador, his work for the Jamaica Tourist Board ‘sings’ volumes and has earned him numerous awards and accolades worldwide. He will be presented with the CCI CODPAR Award – International Class.
So far, 2011 has carried over into 2012 following the release of the chart-topping single “Live Your Life” featuring Gentleman, the German Reggae recording phenom. The song was voted ‘Song of the Year’ on Irie Jam Radio’s Top 100 Songs for 2011.
“The response to the song has given me wind beneath my wings and I look forward to performing the song, while saying a big ‘thank you’ to the many fans who will be there to support me at the awards dinner on April 14,” noted Stephens via ‘phone from his Kingston, Jamaica base.
The annual charity dinner and awards gala is one of two major fundraisers for the CCI and benefits the athletics development program and scholarship fund for the Montego Bay Comets Athletics Club, founded by a group of Cornwall College student/athletes in the Fall of 1977.
Past recipients of the CCI CODPAR Award include; ISSA-Jamaica/Clement Radcliffe (2007); Western Union Financial/Garfield Comrie/Nadine Johnson (2007); VMBS/Suzette Rochester/Michelle Reynolds(2007); Wesmore Thomas – Entrepreneur, PA (2007), Team Jamaica Bickle/Irwin Clare Sr/Blaine Stoddart/Vincent HoSang (2007); Grace Kennedy Limited/Ricardo Bryan/Shelton Rose, (2009); Union of Jamaican Alumni Associations (USA), Inc.,/Karlene Largie/Barbara Richards/Anton Tomlinson (2010); Errol Evans, CCI Member (2010); and Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery & Grill/ Lowell Hawthorne/Omar Hawthorne/Haywood Hawthorne(2011).
