Partners For Youth on a Mission!
FT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA: - “Growing up in today’s environment, our youth face so many complex challenges in life, unlike the days of innocence when the older generation grew up!” So said newly installed Chairman of the Partners For Youth Foundation (PFY) Steve Higgins, as he delivered his address at the induction ceremony of the new PFY board at the picturesque Plantation Preserve Golf & Country Club on Saturday August 14th 2021.
L-R Incoming Chairman Steve Higgins, Broward County Commissioner and former Mayor Dale Holness, Board Member Dr. Rosemarie Lewis, Incoming Vice Chair Eddie Edwards & Consul General of Jamaica, Oliver Mair. Photo credit: Uriah BennettHiggins continued, “It is up to us to have the conversations with our Youth, and to bring them to the table to discuss the matters that may challenge them. Our CONFAB of 2020 offered insights in Health & Wellness- including Mental Health, Scholarship opportunities, discussions around Culture and Financial responsibility”.
The new chairman stated that the administration will take the mission to the next level, through individual and corporate membership expansion, the establishment of strategic alliances with other youth-centric organizations, extension of our Scholarship program, launch of quarterly PFY on-line discussion series by the youth among the youth, in a safe and nonjudgmental environment, the launch of “PFY quarterly Huddle”, where presenters will address topics of critical relevance, such as human trafficking, and the launch of our Annual February Confab in 2022.
The newly inducted executive, which included Eddy Edwards (vice chair) and Dr Rose Adamson Lewis, was sworn in by the Honorable Jacqueline Powell, Judge of the 17th Judicial District of Florida. Other members of the Board include Secretary- Noelle Baldwin, Treasurer- Clinton DaCosta, Jermaine Smith, Abigail Thompson (UK) and Colin Waite.
The Consul General of Jamaica R. Oliver Mair brought greetings, while Commissioner and former Mayor of Broward County Dale Holness, addressed the gathering, pledging support for the 501c3 entity and its new board. Apologies were sent by the Mayor of Davie, Judy Paul.
Vice Chair Eddy Edwards gave a history of the Foundation, which was founded by Anthony (Tony) Baker, Marcia Rigg-Baker, June Minto and Michael Rigg. ABI STARTIME, which included Flavia Christopher, was a pre-cursor to PFY, and included a charm and dance school, centered on Tony’s passion for the arts and our youth. After Tony’s death, the PFY was activated as a 501c3 entity, through which the annual Miss Jamaica Florida Pageant was staged. For over two decades, the PFY has been awarding the Anthony Baker & Marcia Rigg-Baker scholarships annually to a young lady pursuing the arts, the most recent being 2021.
The PFY induction was attended by Diaspora representative Dr Allan Cunningham, Youth Diaspora Representative Amaya Lewis and representatives of various organizations, which share a passion for our youth. Reverend Gerald Gallimore Jr. gave the invocation and Master Matthew Higgins treated the audience with a superb rendition of “God Bless America”.
The Partners for Youth Foundation is a non-profit 501(C)(3) organization founded in memory of the late Anthony Baker. Through strategic partnership, the mission of Partners for Youth Foundation strives to develop our youth emotionally, socially, academically and culturally to ensure that their futures are bright. To learn more about the organization visit ww.partnersforyouthfoundation.org.
