The Jamaica Strong Benefit Concert, held on December 12, 2025, at UBS Arena in Queens, has raised more than $500,000 in net ticket proceeds to support relief and recovery efforts in Jamaica following the widespread destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa.
The announcement was made on Monday, January 5, by George Crooks, CEO of Jammins Events, who described the fundraising achievement as “a unified humanitarian response from the global Jamaican Diaspora.”
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Crooks emphasized that the concert was driven by “a shared sense of responsibility to help Jamaica rebuild in the wake of the storm’s destruction,” noting the overwhelming support from Jamaicans abroad and friends of the island.
Bobby Clarke, co-founder of the Irie Jam Foundation, explained that the funds will be distributed among several reputable organizations to ensure maximum impact. According to Clarke, $150,000 will be allocated to each of the following recipients: Shaggy’s Make a Difference Foundation, the Sean Paul Foundation, and the Government of Jamaica Hurricane Melissa Relief Fund. An additional $50,000 will go to the Irie Jam Foundation to support the repair and rebuilding of primary schools in the County of Cornwall, one of the regions hardest hit by the hurricane.
“By directing funds to both national and community-based organizations, we are ensuring that support reaches individuals, families, and communities where the need is most immediate and the impact most meaningful,” Clarke said. He also noted that nearly 10,000 patrons filled UBS Arena, “underscoring the deep engagement of Jamaicans abroad and friends of the island who came together in solidarity.”
Kacy Rankine, CEO of RoadBlock Radio, highlighted the vital role played by Caribbean artists who volunteered their time and talent for the cause.
“Caribbean artists donated their time and talent, using music and culture as vehicles for unity, healing, and advocacy during a moment of national crisis,” Rankine said.
He expressed gratitude to sponsors, patrons, media partners, volunteers, the wider Caribbean Diaspora, and the artists whose generosity made the initiative possible.
“Conceived as an urgent call to action during a national crisis, the concert was designed to achieve two critical objectives: to increase global attention to the human toll of Hurricane Melissa and to mobilize meaningful financial support for communities working to rebuild,” Rankine added. “Both aims were decisively realized.”
The benefit concert was organized by New York-based cultural and media organizations, including Irie Jam Radio, the Irie Jam Foundation, Jammins Events, and RoadBlock Radio. Their collaborative effort demonstrated the power of community action and the enduring bond between Jamaica and its Diaspora during times of national hardship.
