Green Tie Gala Raises US$470,000 for Cayman charities

The Bridge Foundation and the Red Cross will be the main beneficiaries of a St. Patrick’s Day gala and fundraiser – although a host of other Cayman-focused charities will also receive donations.

Held on 20 March at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, the gala celebrated Cayman’s close ties with Ireland. The event, which has become a fixture in Cayman’s social scene since its debut in 2021, featured an address by Governor Jane Owen, while Premier André Ebanks was among the hundreds of attendees.

Throughout a night of Guinness and dancing, the constant theme was raising funds for charitable causes in Cayman. Through raffles, an auction and drinks donations, the gala raised US$235,000 for charity. That amount was matched by the R3 Cayman Foundation, which helped take the total to US$470,000.

The two main charities supported by the Green Tie Gala 2026 were the Red Cross and the Bridge Foundation, which both received US$108,750 each. One of the key aims of Green Tie Gala charitable donations is that they support projects producing tangible outcomes.

The donation to the Red Cross will go specifically to Support Our Seniors – an initiative to reach 50 elderly people in Cayman with dedicated coordination, new transport and home safety repairs.

The Bridge Foundation donation will support the Phoenix House Project – Cayman’s first purpose-built, residential halfway house for women in recovery from alcohol or drug addiction.

A special donation of US$17,500 was made to support the orphaned children of Octavia Chikukura, a warmly regarded mother and sportswoman who died of liver failure in early March before she could receive a transplant.

Two islands with similar souls

Brendan Barry, chair of the Green Tie committee and one of the founding organisers, recalled how the gala grew from a simple idea for a St Patrick’s Day celebration.

“Somewhere between sorting the Guinness and booking the band, we had a more important question: What if we actually did something meaningful with all this energy and community spirit?” he asked.

“Six years on, over US$2 million raised for the people and causes that make this island community so special, and the only regret is that we didn’t start sooner. Cayman welcomed us with open arms and genuine warmth,” Barry said. “The Green Tie is our way of honouring that; loudly, proudly, and on a Friday night in March.”

The gala is a reminder of some of the benefits of Cayman having diverse, international population.

“The Cayman Islands isn’t just a beautiful place; it’s a community built on the same things we were raised on back home,” said Barry. “Hard work, warmth, looking out for your neighbour, and a fierce pride in where you come from. Two islands, thousands of miles apart, have remarkably similar souls.”

The gala is also a reminder of the positive impact that Cayman’s finance industry can have, with Barry noting that “none of this would have be achieved without the support of our partners, particularly Grant Thornton, who have supported from the beginning.”