Over $65M Raised for Hurricane Melissa Relief Through I Love Jamaica Telethon

Minister Olivia Grange announced that the “I Love Jamaica” telethon raised more than $65 million toward the National Hurricane Melissa Relief Programme, with over 30 artistes delivering performances throughout the virtual event

Reggae star Tarrus Riley during his set at the "I Love Jamaica Telethon." (Photo: Ralmar Photos)

The I Love Jamaica Telethon has raised more than $65 million toward the national Hurricane Melissa relief programme.

The virtual concert, which took place on Sunday, was broadcast on national television and streamed globally across multiple social-media platforms.

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, The Honourable Olivia Grange, reported that $45,765,495 has already been received and deposited into the Support Jamaica account, with an additional $19,970,000 in pledges expected to be collected soon.

According to early reports, the telethon generated over $20 million in its first hour before climbing steadily to surpass the $65 million mark.

The Minister expressed gratitude to all who contributed to the effort. “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 virtual concert featured nearly 30 of Jamaica’s top Reggae, Dancehall, and Gospel artistes, including Sean Paul, Jah Vinci, Tarrus Riley, Christopher Martin, Jahshii, Tessanne Chin, Chevelle Franklyn, and many others. Minister Grange thanked all performers for donating their time, talent, and personal resources to the national cause.

“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 crisis,” she added. The Minister also commended Red Stripe and Digicel for playing pivotal roles in staging both the telethon and the virtual concert.

Among those who helped raise funds live on-air were sprint legend Usain Bolt, along with music promoter and entrepreneur Romeich Major, among other notable figures.

The telethon and virtual concert form part of the wider I Love Jamaica fund-raising initiative, which also includes a series of in-person concerts scheduled for major global cities with large Jamaican communities, such as London, New York, and Miami.