More than 100 students affected by Hurricane Melissa are receiving nearly J$10 million in back-to-school assistance from the Usain Bolt Foundation, including 17 graduates from the sprint legend’s own alma mater who will each receive J$100,000 as they prepare to enter secondary school.
The J$9.7 million initiative will support students across Trelawny, St. James, Hanover, Westmoreland and St. Elizabeth as families continue to recover from the impact of the hurricane. The assistance will help cover school fees and other education-related expenses throughout the 2026-2027 academic year, easing some of the financial pressure on parents at the start of the new school term.
Eight high schools across four parishes have also been selected to partner with the Usain Bolt Foundation, with each receiving J$1 million to assist students facing the greatest financial need. The participating institutions include St. Elizabeth Technical High and Maggotty High in St. Elizabeth; Godfrey Stewart High and Petersfield High in Westmoreland; Green Island High and Merlene Ottey High in Hanover; and Green Pond High and Maldon High in St. James. Guidance counsellors will identify the students most in need of support.
Meanwhile, Bolt has ensured that his own roots are not forgotten. All 17 students from his alma mater, Waldensia Primary School in Trelawny, who successfully completed their Primary Exit Profile examinations will receive J$100,000 grants, totalling J$1.7 million. Winsome Wilkins, chairman of the Usain Bolt Foundation, said the initiative reflects the organisation’s mission of creating a legacy of happy children through educational and cultural development, while inspiring young people to pursue their dreams. Bolt, an eight-time Olympic gold medallist, said he was pleased to provide meaningful assistance, particularly in light of Hurricane Melissa’s impact on families and communities.
The move also builds on the retired Jamaican sprint icon’s longstanding commitment to education and youth development. Earlier this year, the Usain Bolt Foundation donated another J$1.7 million to graduates of Waldensia Primary, where Bolt himself began his educational journey. Now, with support extending across five western parishes, Jamaica’s most celebrated sprinter is proving that while his days on the track may be over, his race to make a difference in the lives of Jamaican children is far from finished.
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