Bronx, New York – Ahead of the upcoming autumn, a beloved Caribbean diaspora community organization is preparing to celebrate service, honor legacy, and raise funds for ongoing charitable work. The Sandy Point Benevolent Society (SPBS) has announced that its 14th Annual Dr. Stewart O. Williams Awards Gala will take place on Saturday, September 5, 2026, running from 8:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. at the Maestros Catering Hall in the Bronx. This year’s gathering, themed “Rooted in Service, Grounded in Giving Back,” carries a bittersweet, meaningful weight for the organization and its members.
This event marks SPBS’s first major annual gala since the passing of Dr. Stewart O. Williams, the group’s founder and long-serving president. Over decades of leadership, Williams’ clear vision and dedicated commitment turned SPBS into a cornerstone of support for education, philanthropy, and community connection among members of the Sandy Point community, as well as the wider Kittitian and Nevisian diaspora based in New York. The 2026 gala is designed not only to celebrate the far-reaching impact of Williams’ life work but also to reaffirm SPBS’s core mission of lifting up future generations through targeted service and giving.
A core highlight of the evening will be the recognition of local changemakers who carry forward the spirit of service Dr. Williams championed. Five outstanding community contributors – Avril Francis, Shermin Stevens, Kylla Herbert, Vernice Williams, and Fitzroy Wilkin – will receive top awards for their exceptional work advancing community development. Three longstanding supporters of the organization, Samuel Jones, Jill Lewis, and Cathleen Hodge-Wilkin, will also be honored with special recognition for their consistent, steadfast backing of SPBS’s scholarship programs and charitable projects.
All proceeds generated from the gala will go directly to the Dr. Stewart O. Williams Legacy Fund, a dedicated endowment that finances need-based educational scholarships, youth leadership development programs, and ongoing community outreach initiatives. The fund is structured to ensure that Williams’ lifelong commitment to service will continue to empower and lift up community members for decades to come, aligning perfectly with the organization’s founding mission.
Beyond awards and fundraising, attendees will enjoy a full evening of celebration. The night will include fine dining, live entertainment, opportunities for fellowship among diaspora community members, and heartfelt tributes to Dr. Williams’ legacy. A traditional annual grand raffle will also be held, with standout prizes including a one-week Caribbean cruise, a two-night weekend stay at a four-star hotel in St. Kitts, and a $100 Amazon gift card.
Individual tickets for the event are priced at $150 per person. SPBS has opened multiple avenues for support beyond individual ticket purchases, welcoming partnerships with corporate sponsors, local community organizations, diaspora alumni, and friends of the organization. Contributions can be made through event sponsorships, advertisement purchases in the event’s official Keepsake Magazine, raffle ticket purchases, or direct donations to the Dr. Stewart O. Williams Legacy Fund. Organizers note that every contribution will help expand educational access and strengthen community service programs that serve the diaspora for years to come.