American Friends of Jamaica to honour business stalwarts
Published:Tuesday | July 12, 2016 | 12:00 AM
The American Friends of Jamaica, Inc. (AFJ), will host its 2016 Hummingbird Gala and Benefit on Wednesday, October 5, at the Plaza Hotel in New York.
This year's event pays tribute to Robert W. Pittman, chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia, Inc. and Gary 'Butch' Hendrickson, CEO Continental Baking Company, Limited. The recipients will be awarded the AFJ International Humanitarian Award - the Hummingbird Award.
Pittman is chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia, Inc., a leading global media, digital and entertainment company which includes iHeartMedia, with the largest reach of any broadcaster in America and is also a major digital and social platform, and Clear Channel Outdoor, with more than 650,000 displays in more than 35 countries.
He is also a founding member of Pilot Group, LLC, a New York private investment firm.
Pittman is the co-founder and programmer who led the team that created MTV. He has been CEO of MTV Networks, AOL Networks, Six Flags Theme Parks, Quantum Media, Century 21 Real Estate, and Time Warner Enterprises, and was also COO of America Online, Inc. and later of AOL Time Warner.
Hendrickson, popularly called "Butch", serves as chairman and CEO of Continental Baking Company and Coconut Bay Beach Resort and Spa in St Lucia. Continental Baking Company provides employment for approximately 800 persons in Jamaica, and Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa in Vieux Fort, St Lucia is an all-inclusive, 254-room hotel.
Additionally, he chairs the board of the EXIM Bank, is a vice president of the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ), and member of the board of directors of the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ), Rainforest Seafoods, Kings House Foundation and president of the Council of Voluntary Social Services in Jamaica.
Hendrickson actively participates in programmes focused on early childhood education and local manufacturing in Jamaica and is a major contributor to charities such as Mustard Seed Communities, Laws Street Trade Training Centre, Food for the Poor and St Patrick's Foundation among others.
The AFJ is a charitable 501(c)(3) organization, founded in 1982 and built on the principles of service and philanthropy; and is established to render assistance in the areas of education, healthcare, and economic development.