Sprint icon Usain Bolt has teamed up with his longtime sponsor Puma to donate J$5 million each to St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) and his alma mater, William Knibb Memorial High School in Trelawny, to support their recovery following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.
Both institutions suffered major damage when the powerful Category 5 storm swept across the island in late October.
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STETHS, located in Santa Cruz, St Elizabeth, sustained extensive structural losses. The grade 11 block, which houses classrooms for students preparing for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate examinations, was left completely without a roof, according to JIS News. Roofs were also torn off the grade seven and grade nine blocks, and the cottages used by the principal and teachers were severely affected. Dormitories for track and field athletes were damaged, a section of the perimeter wall collapsed, and the spectator stands were heavily battered.
William Knibb Memorial High School reported that seven buildings on the campus were damaged, with six suffering severe roof loss and other major impacts.
Bolt has maintained a close relationship with his alma mater throughout his career, consistently providing gear, equipment, and other support to the school and several organizations across Jamaica. His commitment to giving back continued immediately after Hurricane Melissa, when he dispatched a team to Trelawny and surrounding communities to assess the destruction and coordinate assistance.
The combined J$10 million donation from Bolt and Puma aims to accelerate rebuilding efforts and help restore normalcy for students affected by the storm.
