Bernadette Christie, wife Prime Minister Perry Christie, will chair the newly created Ambassador Nicole Avant Scholarship Foundation of The Bahamas.
The foundation was formed by a prominent group of Bahamian business people lead by NABHOOD President Andy Ingraham and will be associated with The College of the Bahamas and will focus on continuing the efforts established by Ambassador Avant during her tenure in The Bahamas. The Ambassador Nicole Avant Scholarship Foundation of The Bahamas will promote partnerships between American and Bahamian business people and raise money to provide academic scholarships to talented youth in an effort to expand opportunities for Bahamians.
“The Work of this Foundation is much needed and will be greatly appreciated and we welcome her back home,” Prime Minister Christie said of the foundation and of Ambassador Avant.
Serving as U.S. Ambassador to The Bahamas from September 2009 until November 2011, Nicole Avant was the youngest person and first African-American woman to hold the position.
“Ambassador Avant’s work with women and girls in The Bahamas is a significant part of her legacy. We look forward to the momentous impact that this Foundation will have in furtherance of those efforts,” said Attorney General Allyson Maynard Gibson.
“The Bahamian-American partnership was further fortified under Ambassador Avant,” said National Association of Black Hotel Owner Operators and Developers President Andy Ingraham. “Her direction, particularly in the spheres of business and education, greatly expanded opportunities for Bahamian/American collaboration and introduced The Bahamas to a new audience in the world of business.”
Ambassador Avant utilised her personal connections to strengthen business development, empower Bahamian youth through education, champion the environment and uplift those with disabilities.
This created spaces for outreach from luminaries such as revolutionary educator Geoffrey Canada; business mogul Earvin ”Magic” Johnson; Andrew Sharpless, President of Oceania, as well as, Eunice and Francesca Shriver, representing the Kennedy family’s philanthropic legacy at the annual Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day celebration.
Her numerous achievements earned Ambassador Avant a nomination for the Sue M. Cobb Award for Exemplary Diplomatic Service by the U.S. Department of State. The award honors non-career Ambassadors who have best used private sector leadership skills to enhance proactive diplomacy.
Since returning to the U.S., Ambassador Avant has been honored by various organizations and publications for her humanitarian and philanthropic efforts including The Trumpet Awards, The Boys and Girls Club of America and Girls Inc.
“Ambassador Avant is a true friend of The Bahamas and her contacts will open many doors for The Bahamian people,” said Minister of Foreign affairs and Immigration Fred Mitchell.
Ambassador Avant now resides in Southern California and is married to Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer of Netflix.
