More than 180 tertiary and secondary students from western Jamaica, along with three institutions, were awarded grants totaling J$30 million during the MBJ Foundation Charity Run/Walk Grant Awards Ceremony held March 17 at the Sangster International Airport departures terminal.
The ceremony, themed “Destiny Helpers,” marked the culmination of the 2025 MBJ Charity Run/Walk held last September. Although the awards presentation was postponed due to the impact of Hurricane Melissa, organizers said the event ultimately became a symbol of recovery and resilience for the region.
Investing in the future
Among the recipients was Dane Eglar, a third-year Environmental Biology student at the University of the West Indies, who received a $100,000 grant to support his studies.
“Before the hurricane, I was facing challenges financially and I’m sure many awardees here were doing the same. The grant is coming now in the post-hurricane era to help students who are still in the recovery phase and want to carry on with their studies is good because a lot of students had to drop out. So, MBJ stepping in and helping students to continue their studies is phenomenal,” Eglar said.
Shane Munroe, Chief Executive Officer of MBJ Airports Limited, described the initiative as a long-term investment in education and sustainability.
“It’s an investment in you because we believe that your education is the single most powerful engine of change in Jamaica,” Munroe told students, parents, and officials gathered at the ceremony.
Munroe also announced that J$15 million of the total funds has been earmarked for the rebuilding of schools damaged by Hurricane Melissa. The initiative is being supported by additional contributions from MBJ shareholders Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico and Vantage Airport Group.
“We want to be a part of the recovery process and we must ensure that the private sector works with the Government, with the public sector. That’s what community looks like,” Munroe said.
Support for specialized education
The Montego Bay Learning Centre received $300,000 in cash along with more than $500,000 in equipment and furniture to support students with special needs.
Principal Roy Reid said the assistance came at a critical time following hurricane damage to the facility, including loss of equipment, furniture, and appliances in technical vocational areas.
“There could not have been a better time to receive this grant because Hurricane Melissa did significant damage to our perimeter fence, resulted in us losing all our equipment, furniture and appliances,” Reid said.
Inspiring the recipients
Guest speaker Jermaine Johnson, CEO of Johnson Motivates and ambassador for the I Believe Initiative, encouraged recipients to make the most of the opportunity, sharing his own experiences with “destiny helpers” during financial struggles in his academic journey.
“I am here today because somebody invested in my destiny and I am delighted to know that destiny helpers are still keeping in Jamaica,” Johnson said.
Officials and sponsors
Also in attendance were Charles Sinclair, representing Horace Chang, and Richard Vernon. Title sponsor, the Airports Authority of Jamaica, was represented by Cheryl Blake, who delivered greetings on behalf of president Audley Deidrick.
The Annual Charity Run/Walk remains the flagship fundraiser for the MBJ Foundation. Since its inception, the foundation has raised and donated $71 million, directly impacting more than 1,700 students. Organizers also noted that proceeds from the 2025 staging surpassed the $22 million raised at the previous event.
