AFJ to honour three leaders for Hurricane Melissa response at Miami gala

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ) is set to honour three key figures in Jamaica’s Hurricane Melissa recovery effort at its 2026 Jamaica Charity Gala, recognising their roles in delivering aid and coordinating rebuilding after the storm.

Michael Capponi, founder of Global Empowerment Mission (GEM), Edward Raine, president and chief executive officer of Food For The Poor, and Norman Horne, executive chairman of ARC Manufacturing Limited, will be recognised at the June 6 event in Miami.

AFJ Executive Director Caron Chung said the honourees were being recognised for their leadership and sustained support during the recovery phase.

The awards highlight the scale of the private and non-profit response that supported national efforts following the hurricane, which caused widespread damage across parts of the island.

Capponi’s organisation moved quickly in the immediate aftermath, delivering more than one million pounds of emergency supplies within the first week of the storm, using prepositioned warehouses and coordination with local and regional agencies. By early 2026, total shipments into Jamaica had reached roughly four million pounds, with ongoing work focused on temporary roofing and repairs to damaged facilities.

Food For The Poor, under Raine’s leadership, served as a lead logistics partner in the national response, managing inbound shipments, customs clearance and distribution of humanitarian aid. The organisation committed more than US$4 million to the effort, established regional hubs in Montego Bay and Spanish Town, and scaled up the delivery of food supplies to thousands of households daily. It has since launched a multi-phase housing rebuild programme.

Horne’s ARC Manufacturing supported the expansion of relief operations beyond air transport, helping coordinate sea freight deliveries of food, shelter materials and water alongside partners including AFJ and private sector entities.

The annual gala, one of the main fundraising events supporting Jamaica-focused initiatives in South Florida, will include a silent auction, dinner and live entertainment. Proceeds will fund AFJ’s grant programmes in education, healthcare and economic development.