Six individuals and organizations have been selected for the 2011 Spirit of the Caribbean Awards being presented by Holy Cross Hospital Inc.

The awards pay tribute to leadership in and support of South Florida’s Caribbean community.   

The winners are Kamal Abdool, Trinidad & Tobago Diaspora/Citizens Association of T&T; Dr. Alina Alonso, Palm Beach County Health Department; Marcia Barry-Smith, BankAtlantic; Ralph Campbell, McKinley Financial Services; Rachel Wheeler, Food For The Poor; Broward College; and Coast To Coast Legal Aid of South Florida Inc.

The awards program will be hosted by  Minority Development & Empowerment Inc., an organization that provides services, referrals and advocacy for the minority population in Broward County to ensure and facilitate access  to meet clients’ health, social, economic, educational and personal needs. 

Sponsors of the event include Holy Cross Hospital, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Broward College, Wells Fargo, Maroone, Grace Foods International, JM Family Enterprises Inc., BankAtlantic, Gilead Sciences Inc., Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Cindy Schutt PR and Lifestyle Magazines.

It will take place at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 18, at Signature Grand, 6900 State Road 84, Davie, in Broward County.

Tickets cost  $65 per person and sponsorships are available from $1,000 to $5,000.

For more information, call  Karen Lyttle, 954-315-4530 ext. 221, or e-mail klyttle@mdeinc.org