Kerry Washington to receive award at Jamaican gala

Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated actress Kerry Washington, who has Jamaican roots, will be honoured with an Artistic Achievement Award at Jamaica's 57th Independence Black Tie Gala, slated for the Hilton Westchester Hotel, Rye, New York, on August 10.

"Kerry is an outstanding actress and director. She is also an activist who has consistently used her platform to advocate for the arts, as she did in 2007 when she testified before Congress," said event chairman/producer Sephron Mair.

In a decorated career, Washington won the Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture award for Ray at the NAACP Image Awards in 2005.

She earned her several Emmy, Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and Golden Globe nominations for her portrayal of Olivia Pope in the ABC TV drama Scandal and for her portrayal of lawyer/academic Anita Hill in the 2016 HBO film Confirmation, which was produced under the banner of her production company Simpson Street.

Born in the Bronx to parents Valerie (Moss) from St Elizabeth, Jamaica, and Earl Washington, from South Carolina, she is currently in production on Little Fires Everywhere for Hulu, which she and Reese Witherspoon both executive produce and star in.

She recently appeared in ABC's live presentation of The Jeffersons as Helen Willis, alongside Wanda Sykes, Will Ferrell, and Jamie Foxx.

"We are extremely proud to honour and celebrate Kerry's outstanding achievements at our upcoming Jamaica Independence Gala," an elated Mair shared.

The Black Tie Gala - Jamaica's marquee Independence celebration in New York - is being held under the distinguish patronage of Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett.

Also in attendance and acting as brand ambassador will be Lisa Hanna, member of parliament and 1993 Miss World winner. The event will be attended by more than 1,000 celebrants under the theme 'Celebrating Brand Jamaica.'

Part of the proceeds from the gala will be donated to Food For The Poor Jamaica, and Food For The Poor Inc.