A beloved Caribbean-born community servant and public figure is set to be recognized for decades of relentless philanthropy and public service this fall, as the Sandy Point Benevolent Society (SPBS) prepares to honor Avril Francis at the 14th annual Dr. Stewart O. Williams Awards Gala.
The gala is scheduled to take place on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at Maestro’s Catering Hall, located at 1703 Bronxdale Avenue in the Bronx, New York. Organizers have opened ticket sales to the general public, inviting community members from across the region to join in celebrating Francis and other distinguished honorees at the event, which carries the 2026 theme “Rooted in Service, Grounded in Giving Back.”
Born in St. Kitts, Francis built her life and decades-long career in New York City, where she has dedicated nearly all her professional and personal time to lifting up vulnerable and marginalized residents. Her career in public service began in healthcare, where she started out as a nursing assistant before advancing to a role as a medical technician with Montefiore Hospital’s Care for the Homeless program. In that position, she has helped hundreds of unhoused New Yorkers regain not just physical health, but a sense of hope and personal dignity that many thought they had lost forever.
Beyond her frontline healthcare work, Francis has emerged as one of the Bronx’s most respected community leaders. She currently serves as chair of the board at Montefiore Hospital’s Wakefield Campus, maintains longstanding collaborative partnerships with the NYPD 47th Precinct and the department’s youth-focused NYPD Explorers Program, and founded the Avril Show Cancer Award Foundation, a charitable organization that provides critical support to cancer survivors, funds youth development programs, operates accessible summer camps, runs back-to-school supply initiatives for low-income families, and supports a wide range of other local community causes. She has also built a reputation as a well-known and trusted broadcast personality across the New York metropolitan area.
SPBS officials note that Francis’ decades of work align perfectly with the 2026 gala’s core theme, making her a natural and worthy choice for this year’s recognition. “Ms. Francis embodies this theme through her unwavering commitment to healthcare, community service, youth development, and philanthropy,” the organization shared in its official announcement of the honor. “The Sandy Point Benevolent Society is honored to recognize her outstanding contributions and lasting impact.”
Tickets for the gala are priced at $150 per person, and all members of the public are welcome to attend. For more information about the event, ticket purchases, or the Sandy Point Benevolent Society’s ongoing work, visit the organization’s official website at www.spbsinc.org.