The Government has confirmed that the I Love Jamaica Telethon and Virtual Concert, held on Sunday, November 23, has raised more than $65 million to support national recovery efforts following Hurricane Melissa.
The event, broadcast on national television and streamed globally across social media platforms, featured nearly 30 of Jamaica’s top reggae, dancehall, and gospel artistes. The fundraiser attracted contributions from Jamaicans at home and abroad, as well as supporters worldwide.
Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, announced the results on Monday, noting that $45,765,495 has already been deposited into the Support Jamaica account. An additional $19,970,000 in pledges is expected to be received shortly.
Grange expressed gratitude to all who contributed to the initiative. “Thank you to the man and the woman in the street on the island and in the Diaspora, as well as members of corporate Jamaica, and the people of the world who are rallying in every way possible to support our brothers and sisters who were hardest hit by this most powerful of hurricanes,” she said.
The minister also praised the artistes who donated their performances—and in some cases financial support—to help drive the relief effort. “We in Jamaica are lucky to have such committed, generous, patriotic, compassionate and caring people in our entertainment fraternity, including sports stars and broadcasters, who never let us down in times of crises,” Grange said.
She extended special thanks to Red Stripe and Digicel for their partnership in staging the telethon and virtual concert, which she described as a meaningful show of national solidarity.
