DIASPORA | CARIJAM Golf Classic at 25: When the Diaspora Shows Up, Jamaica Feels It
The event is led by Dr. B. Roy Davidson (Tournament Chair, CCC President)
A star-studded golf classic in Los Angeles celebrates a quarter-century of Caribbean giving — and reminds the world that home is never too far away
Calvin G. Brown |
There is a particular kind of love that the Caribbean diaspora carries — quiet, persistent, and fierce. It does not announce itself in grand speeches at international summits. It shows up, instead, on a golf course in Valencia, California, with a cheque book, a commitment, and the unshakeable belief that those who have made it are obligated to reach back.
On Monday, April 13, 2026, that love will take centre stage at the Valencia Country Club as the Jamaica Awareness Association of California (JAAC), the Caribbean Cricket Club (CCC), and the Alliance of Jamaican and American Humanitarians (AOJAH) host the 25th Annual CARIJAM Celebrity Golf Classic — a milestone event that is equal parts celebration, solidarity, and service.
Twenty-five years. A quarter century of consistent, disciplined, community-driven philanthropy. In an era when attention spans collapse and charitable enthusiasm fades with the news cycle, CARIJAM's longevity is itself a statement.
Sankofa in Action
The Akan principle of Sankofa — the wisdom of reaching back to move forward — has never found more elegant expression than in the work these organizations have sustained across two and a half decades.
Free medical and dental missions delivered to communities that needed them most.
Computer labs established in Jamaican schools, bridging the digital divide one classroom at a time. Scholarships that transformed the trajectory of young lives.
Disaster relief that arrived not from governments, but from Caribbean people in California who simply refused to look away.
“We who have been blessed with a little more have an obligation to reach back and assist — embracing the principle of Sankofa — and to pay it forward whenever possible.”
— Dr. B. Roy Davidson, Tournament Chair & CCC President
That is not a corporate mission statement. That is a covenant.
Hollywood Answers the Call
This year's celebrity lineup reads like a roll call of Black excellence: Glynn Turman, Chris Spencer, Dawnn Lewis, James Pickens Jr., Lyriq Bent, Flex Alexander, and Michael Ralph all lending their names, their time, and their draw to the cause.
But it is the presence of Sheryl Lee Ralph, OJ — acclaimed actress, humanitarian, and proud daughter of Jamaica — that gives the occasion its full emotional weight.
In a moment when Jamaica's daughters and sons are making their mark on the world's largest cultural stages, Ralph's participation is a reminder that the roots remain, and that they matter.
A Day Worth Marking
Registration begins at 9:00 AM at the prestigious Valencia Country Club, 27330 Tourney Road, Valencia, CA 91355. A putting contest at 10:00 AM precedes the 11:00 AM tee-off, with lunch at 1:00 PM and a concluding Awards Dinner at 5:00 PM.
Every dollar raised flows directly into medical and dental missions, scholarships, educational technology, and disaster relief — in Jamaica and in underserved communities across Los Angeles.
The event is co-chaired by Joy Stephenson-Laws and Maxwell Sinclair, with Patrick Williams leading JAAC participation and Jeffrey Anderson-Gunter coordinating celebrity engagement.
Sponsors include Mercedes-Benz of Valencia, Proactive Health Labs, Stephenson Acquisto & Colman, UNI Healthcare Inc. Systems, and Santa Cruz County Bank.
More Than Golf
CARIJAM at 25 is not simply a charity golf tournament. It is a declaration — that Caribbean people, wherever the tide has carried them, do not forget. That the blessings of migration carry responsibilities. That home, however distant, is always worth fighting for.
For sponsorship, player registration, or media inquiries, contact:
B. Roy Davidson | 661-495-8834 |
Joy Stephenson-Laws |
Maxwell Sinclair | 818-482-7016 |
Patrick Williams | 310-415-0542 |
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