Claudia Gardner, Gleaner Writer

Actor and comedian, Eddie Griffin, during an interview at the Jamaica 360 Degrees Sun Festival at Grand Lido Braco in Trelawny. - Photo by Claudia Gardner

WESTERN BUREAU:

Actor/Comedian Eddie Griffin says he is pleased with the success of the inaugural Jamaica 360 Degrees Sun Festival, held at the Grand Lido Braco in Trelawny earlier this week, and according to him, this is only the beginning.

The Jamaica 360 Degrees Sun Festival celebrated the achievements of 100 graduates of historically black colleges in the United States. The graduates are being acknowledged for their dedication to school, community service and academic excellence and was made possible by a US$150,000 donation by Griffin.

"This celebration of the achievements of these graduates, is very important," Griffin told The Sunday Gleaner.

"A lot of people do beneficial things for children in the 'hood which should be commended and should continue, but nobody ever gives back to the kids who do the right thing, who were positive and made it through college, struggled and still managed to maintain a 3.8 or 4.0 average, which was my criteria," he said.

"The least I could do was to throw the little bit that I had to the situation to ensure that these kids come down here and get a respite as they go into society."

"It will be an annual event every year here in Jamaica! It has got to happen in Jamaica," Griffin explained. "The irie vibrations is blessing the situation.

"Jamaica's greatest resources are its people and the love and respect the Jamaican people have for anybody else who come on their soil, this is the only place I believed it (the festival) could take place properly."

"The Festival is the brainchild of Xavier Artis, founder of Recycling Inspiration (RI), a cause-related international brand marketing company known for its philosophy of Emotional Branding, which he founded; and sponsored by SuperClubs operators of Grand Lido, Breezes and Hedonism Resorts and innovators of all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean.

Blue World Travel, pioneers of African American-themed cruises and travel and official airline Air Jamaica were also sponsors of the event, which its organisers say will ensure the next generation of black leaders steps out on sure footing.

Other partnering organisations were the Jamaica Tourist Board, Ministry of Tourism, Entertainment and Culture: Black Collegian Magazine, Upliftment Jamaica, Black Meetings and Tourism, Gary Foster (Phat Farm), KLJH FM, X-Site Radio, Marilyn Artis and Cheryl Duncan and Company.