Rebuilding Hope in Jamaica After Hurricane Melissa
When Hurricane Melissa tore through Jamaica, it left behind more than fallen trees and broken buildings. It left families without shelter, parents without food for their children, and entire communities stripped of security and dignity. I was there when the winds howled through my hometown of Ocho Rios, Jamaica, when the rain seemed endless, and when neighbors clung to one another not just for safety, but for hope.
Jamaica is the land that raised me and is the place that taught me resilience, love, and the meaning of community. Now, that same community needs our help more than ever. Homes have been destroyed, roads are impassable, and necessities like food, clean water, and medical supplies are scarce. But the most significant loss has been the sense of stability that so many families once had especially on the Western side of the island.
I am launching this campaign not only to provide immediate relief for food, clean water, and essential supplies but also to ensure that relief efforts include investment in sustainable, long-term recovery. I will be partnering directly with SteelePitt Development Ltd., a trusted Jamaican organization committed to building safe, resilient, and sustainable housing for those who have lost everything.
As the CFO of the Chicago Architectural Center, an organization that inspires people to "discover why design matters," I work daily to support efforts to ensure that design isn't just about aesthetics, but also about dignity. It's about creating spaces that keep families safe, children dry, and communities connected. I want to bring that same belief to Jamaica to help transform devastation into design, loss into opportunity, and despair into renewal.
During the storm, I was extremely fortunate to have been a guest at one of SteelePitt Development's properties, Opulenz. The property stood strong throughout this Category 5 hurricane while neighboring properties sustained major damage. When the entire block lost power, along with millions across the island, Opulenz remained fully powered due to its investment in solar panels as the primary energy source. So I can attest directly to SteelePitt's expertise and commitment to the kind of innovation that saves lives.
For immediate relief and ongoing recovery efforts, it is critical to partner with those who have the knowledge and experience to rebuild stronger, not just to restore what was, but to create homes and communities that can better withstand the future.
Together, we will ensure that every donation, regardless of its size, directly supports this mission. It will help put a roof over a family's head, food on their table, and hope back into a community that refuses to give up.
Please join me in helping Jamaica rebuild not just homes, but lives. Together, we can design a stronger, safer future for the island that has given so much to the world.
Give today. Share this message. Be part of rebuilding hope.
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