Spanish-Jamaican teen raises over $2m for Cornwall Regional Hospital

Western Bureau:

Responding to the devastation left behind in Jamaica by Hurricane Melissa, 17-year-old Spanish-Jamaican Kiran Moleon Lopez, a student at the American School of Madrid in Spain, has raised over $2 million to help provide supplies for the Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay.

In a cross-continental fundraising effort titled ‘Out of Many, One Healing’, the young philanthropist has shown how creativity can be harnessed to generate life-saving resources in a crisis.

Moleon, who was born in the United States and raised between Jamaica and Spain, is the son of Amanda Lopez, a former TV producer with ties to both countries, and Carlos Moleon, a business owner who runs VIP Attractions in Kingston and Montego Bay.

Explaining the rationale behind his initiative, Moleon said that although he knows Jamaicans are resilient, he also knows that rebounding from a destructive Category 5 hurricane will require a monumental effort. “I’ve seen how strong Jamaicans are, but I also know how hard it is to rebuild when resources are scarce.

“My goal is simple: Help Jamaica’s hospitals heal, so they can help others heal,” he said, noting that the campaign’s funds will support medical beds, generators, water systems and emergency supplies, which will be delivered through trusted local organisations.

The fundraiser, launched in late October, had an initial target of $2 million, but that figure was surpassed by almost $200,000. The funds have since been disbursed to the hospital through a private channel coordinated by Kiran’s family.

According to Moleon, the funds were raised through online crowdfunding, social-media advocacy and community-driven outreach from Madrid, Kingston and Montego Bay. He said the campaign was structured to ensure complete transparency. His initiative is perhaps unsurprising, given his family’s deep roots in Jamaican life, particularly in hospitality and tourism. His father’s work links airports in Kingston and Montego Bay.

A source at Cornwall Regional Hospital, who confirmed that the facility was the beneficiary of Moleon’s initiative, said the gesture was greatly appreciated and praised the effort.

Moleon, whose formal education continues in Madrid, hopes his work will inspire similar acts of solidarity among young people worldwide.

In lauding Moleon’s initiative, the Montego Bay mayor said it demonstrates how young people can leverage digital platforms and cross-border networks to address real-world needs.

“As Jamaica moves toward recovery, the story of Kiran Moleon Lopez stands out as a source of international solidarity, a contemporary echo of the nation’s motto: Out of Many, One People. For the island that raised him, his contribution brings a tangible lifeline to a hospital at the heart of Montego Bay,” said Vernon.

adrian.frater@gleanerjm.com