MBJ Foundation Fun Run/Walk donates $30m to 184 students, two schools in west

WESTERN BUREAU:

Hundreds of students across western Jamaica are poised to benefit from a part of MBJ Airports Limited’s $30-million donation to education, which will also see funds going towards the rebuilding of schools damaged during the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

Sharon Heslop-Holt, manager of commercial business development and marketing at MBJ Airports Limited, said the initiative continues to transform lives through the power of partnership and sustained corporate support.

“We gather not only to celebrate a successful event, but also to hand over the funds raised and to recognise the powerful impact that partnership, generosity, and community spirit can have on education,” she said.

The funding will directly support 184 students and two institutions, with 134 tertiary-level students receiving $100,000 each and 50 secondary students receiving $40,000 each, alongside a $300,000 grant to a community organisation supporting students with special needs.

The grant award ceremony, which was delayed due to the impact of the hurricane, comes at a critical time, with some schools still struggling to return to full operations.

“While this handover ceremony was delayed due to last year’s hurricane, we are pleased to finally come together at a time when the need for support and opportunity is even greater,” said Heslop-Holt.

In addition to the direct grants, she disclosed that $15 million, which was raised from the MBJ’s Charity Run/Walk, will be combined with funding from the 110 corporate partners to undertake urgent repairs to the two schools that were severely damaged.

“This effort aims to restore their facilities and enable students to return to full-time schooling,” she said.

Heslop-Holt also stated that the initiative, now in its fifth year, has evolved into a major vehicle for educational advancement.

“Over the past five years, the MBJ Team Sangster Charity Run/Walk initiative has raised and donated $71 million, directly impacting the lives of 1,720 students and many more indirectly,” she noted.

She credited corporate sponsors – dubbed ‘Destiny Helpers’ - for driving the programme’s continued growth.

“Your commitment, generosity, and belief in education have gone beyond giving. It has created opportunities, inspired hope, and changed lives,” she said.

REMAIN DEDICATED

In encouraging the student recipients to maximise the opportunity, Heslop-Holt urged them to remain dedicated and focused.

“Your dedication, hard work, and resilience have brought you here, and this support is a reflection of the belief in your limitless potential,” she said.

She said the initiative represents more than an annual event, describing it as a sustained investment in Jamaica’s future.

“It represents a shared commitment to investing in education, empowering young people, and helping to build the leaders and innovators of tomorrow,” she added.

Meanwhile, Mara Kay Johnson, a second-year student at the Bethlehem Moravian Teachers’ College in St Elizabeth, described the grant as “life-changing”.

“Being a recipient of the MBJ Grants means a lot to me because it has come at a time when financing my education has become challenging. It helps to ease some of the financial burden, allowing me to focus more on my studies,” she said. “I feel grateful, motivated, and encouraged to continue working hard and to make the best of this opportunity.”

Johnson, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in primary education with a specialisation in mathematics and science, told The Gleaner that her journey has not been without obstacles.

“Hurricane Melissa has had a significant impact on my studies due to damage and the challenges that followed such as limited access to resources and adjusting to changes in the learning environment,” she said.

albert.ferguson@gleanerjm.com