The American Foundation for the University of the West Indies has annually flaunted their commitment to helping the Caribbean institution of higher learning by hosting a gala fundraising affair.
This year, the effort comes of age with a stellar presentation slated for Feb. 22 at the Pierre Hotel in Manhattan that in addition to soliciting donations to the University of the West Indies also honors half a dozen outstanding achievers.
Among the chosen is Grenada-born publicist Yvette Noel-Schure.
Now a Jersey girl, the Spice Island native is slated to receive the Caribbean Luminary Award.
According to the organizers, the honor is bestowed on an individual of extraordinary merit and acclaim.
The words exemplary, excellent and leadership also exemplify a luminary. It is the summation that best describes outstanding achievement.
Perhaps, it is the reason Noel Schure will be presented with AFUWI’s prestigious honor.
A worthy cultural ambassador from the island, she is founder and executive vice president of Schure Media Group, a company which represents Beyonce, Tina Knowles Lawson, LeAnn Rimes, Jussie Smollett and late night television host Robin Thede and others.
The self-starter realized her niche soon after graduating from the City College of New York. Confident in her pursuit to work in media she first honed her skills as a journalist working for a newspaper wire service. At warp speed, she branched out to report, write and edit Black Beat Magazine, a publication at the time revered for its cutting edge biographical features spotlighting new and upcoming entertainment talent.
A must-have fanzine for teens and tweens, the publication won acclaim for presenting candid and personal articles on hip-hop and rhythm and blues recorders.
Alluring as the position seemed, Noel-Schure was whisked away from her editorial hamlet when Columbia Records enticed her with a directorial position in their publicity division. The young, ambitious, immigrant leaped at the offer and as her very, first project she was tasked with launching the career of Mariah Carey.
Along with that daunting prospect, Noel-Schure found herself immersed in the publicity campaigns for Johnny Mathis, Nancy Wilson, reggae talents Super Cat, Diana King, Tony Rebel, Wailing Souls and “Cool Runnings,” the soundtrack to the movie about the first Jamaican men’s bobsled team to qualify for the winter Olympics.
Soon after, her roster expanded to encompass all the genre of artists signed to the record label — pop, gospel and jazz among them.
By the time the company evolved from being the recording arm of the Columbia Broadcasting Service (CBS) to ownership by SONY Music, Noel-Schure’s position had been upped to vice president of publicity.
In that position, The Fugees, Kenny Lattimore, John Legend and Destinys Child became priorities to promote and command her media attention. Working with newspaper and magazine editors she honed formidable relationships and alliances that did not go unnoticed by her superiors.
Before long, her title changed to senior VP of media at Columbia Records / Sony Music and for 17 years she played a major role in the careers of an illustrious roster of diverse artists.
After those many years, the Grenadian media mover stepped away from her corporate coziness to venture independently launching Schure Media Group with her husband David.
Her principal account was SONY’s dream trio, Destinys Child.
She added “Britain’s Got Talent’s” singing sensation Susan Boyle to her stable and was acknowledged by Billboard Magazine as one of the music industry’s “Six Topline Publicists.”
Throughout her storied career, Noel-Schure has maintained a synergy with Beyonce that continues and has diversified to include BeyGood, the initiative founded by the pop icon in 2013 to create a program with partners to positively affect people all over the globe including a project in Haiti.
Recently returned from visiting Grenada and New Zealand, the celebrity publicist is part of a team working closely with UNICEF to aid the water crisis in Burundi, East Africa and has sponsored students attending the T.A. Marryshow Community College in Grenada.
Five other accomplished individuals will also be lauded during the 21st annual gala. Recipients of awards will include — Patrick Hylton, the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Business Leadership; CCH Pounder, Guyanese American actress, will receive the distinguished Robert Nesta “Bob” Marley Award; Marlon James, will receive “The Pinnacle Literary Award and — The Pelican Award” reserved for UWI alumni; Angela Yee — the Vice Chancellor’s Achievement Award and June Ambrose will be presented with the “Women in Business Award.”
For further information, call 212-759-9345 or visit www.afuwi.org.
