The relaxing Le Bistro area at Malliouhana Hotel and Spa was the scene of a well-planned and formal celebration on Tuesday night, January 20, as the Anguilla Community Foundation joined global celebrations in observance of the historic Inauguration of President Barak Obama, the first African- American to grace the White House in such a lofty position.

A large section of the jubilant party-goers and Obama enthusiasts

The auspicious, merry-making and well-attended occasion had an interesting twist as it was also used as a charitable fund-raiser in support of The Teacher Noonie Fund for education and youth development, a project which the community-minded American President would readily endorse and promote. With tickets at US$100 and US $175, the event not only demonstrated its high level of formality, but also the importance of the charity to which the money has been committed.

President Obama’s Moment in History

Chairperson of the nearly 10-year-old Community Foundation, Dr. Bonnie Richardson-Lake, welcomed the partying crowd and was grateful for the overwhelming support. She went on: “President Obama once said ‘It took a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get to where we are today, so we have just begun. Today, we begin in earnest the work of making sure that the world we leave our children is just a little bit better than the world we inhabit today.’ That is the goal of President Barak Obama and that in fact is the goal of the Anguilla Community Foundation.”

Johnny and the Overdrive Stringband

She saw the inauguration of the United States first black, and 44th, President as a historic event and a reason for celebration around the world. She said that the Foundation’s Board of Directors was of the view that the inauguration was not about Anguillians, Americans, Democrats, Republicans, Blue States or Red States, black people or white people. “It was about celebrating a historic event,” she continued. “I believe the world collectively is hopeful of, about this new President. In these times of economic hardship, war, climate change and other adversities we still, to coin one of Obama’s phrases, ‘have the audacity to hope.’”

Mrs. Rhona Richardson-Roydon

Founder of the Teacher Noonie Fund, Mrs. Rhona Richardson-Roydon, said Obama’s inauguration was a great day for the world. She emphasised that the occasion was not a political gathering and that the Community Foundation “does not get involved in politics internationally or locally.” She further explained: “We simply took the opportunity to celebrate with the rest of the world the inauguration of the first black President of the United States of America...We thought we would take advantage of this opportunity to party with a purpose.”

Officials and others at the Community Foundation’s Party

Section of the large turnout Partying For A Purpose

That purpose had to do with her establishment of a Fund in memory of her mother, the late Muriel Eleanor Richardson (Teacher Noonie) who was a school teacher, a music teacher and an organist at the Bethel Methodist Church. She died in Mobile, Alabama, where she was receiving medical attention. “My mother taught by example,” Mrs. Richardson-Roydon. “She showed my sister and I how to give back to community and she has long since passed…I thought I would establish a Fund in her name as children and education were always at the forefront of her thinking.” She hoped that other persons would be inspired by her example to establish a fund at the Anguilla Community Foundation.

Sections of the large turnout Partying For A Purpose

“We raise funds which are endowed in perpetuity to benefit Anguilla. We are supporting education, youth. Particularly, this year our emphasis is going to be on early childhood education because I believe that if you give children a firm foundation they will have a start in life and that is what we want to do.” She was particularly grateful to many hotel properties, other businesses and individuals who sponsored the 7-11 p.m. party marking the inauguration of President Obama and for supporting the Teacher Noonie Fund. Among those whom she thanked was Franklin Connor, the first Anguillian to give a sizeable donation to her fund in recognition of the personal assistance he had received from her mother, and Johnny and others of the Overdrive Stringband for providing free of charge the musical entertainment for the occasion.

Officials and others at the Community Foundation’s Party

In her concluding remarks, Mrs. Richardson-Roydon spoke about President Obama’s call for community service while he was speaking at celebrations on Monday, January 19, marking the Dr. Martin Luther King Holiday in the United States. She was gratified over the overwhelming success of the party commemorating the President’s inauguration and the considerable amount of support she had received for the Teacher Noonie Fund.

| Printer-friendly page | Send this article to a friend |

World News