Half Moon raises $4.6 million for philanthropic efforts
HALF MOON reported that for the year ending 2016, its Guest Dollar Donation Programme yielded over J$4.6 million in support of the resort’s give-back efforts to communities and organisations in Jamaica.
Started in April 2011, the Guest Dollar Donation Programme is a part of the resort’s philanthropic efforts where guests are invited to give US$2 for every day of their stay. Through the guests’ kindness, the resort is able to support a variety of organisations and activities spanning education, environment and community development.
“A big part of the Half Moon Foundation budget is supported by the Guest Dollar Donation Programme. It is heartwarming to know that our guests aren’t only interested in enjoying what Jamaica has to offer, but also acknowledge the importance of playing an active role in the social development of our country,” said Shernette Crichton, Half Moon’s director of resort operations.
Some of the resort’s 2016 activities included building a school library and a kindergarten lunch area at Barrett Town All Age. They also refurbished and extended the kindergarten classrooms. Later in the year a further donation of four computers and a printer was made to the library.
MONTHLY FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Over at the SOS Children’s Village, a non-profit welfare organisation, the resort continued its tradition of monthly financial support, which is utilised to maintain the Half Moon House as well as assist with administrative costs.
Being a certified Green Globe resort, environmental protection and preservation is important to Half Moon. In 2016, a donation of $500,000 to the Montego Bay Marine Park Trust enabled them to carry out several sensitisation activities around environmental and climate literacy such as the school’s recycling programme. Crichton said she believed that guests are motivated to give back simply because it feels like the right thing to do.
“Many of our guests are sensitive to the socio-economic conditions that some Jamaicans face and so they are willing to help in any way they can,” she added.
In addition to Guest Dollar Donation, guests also actively participate in the Pack for a Purpose programme. While packing for their vacation, guests are encouraged to take school supplies such as notebooks, pencils, pens, erasers and crayons. In 2016, resort guests donated 352.5 kilos of schools supplies which were donated to the Barrett Town All Age School, SOS Children’s Village, and the Granville Child Care Facility.