$64.7 Million Donated to Bustamante Hospital for Children
By: , March 24, 2016The Key Point:
Photo: Mark Bell
Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton (3rd right), participates in the handing over of a cheque for $55 million to the Bustamante Hospital for Children by the Shaggy Make a Difference Foundation. Others (from left) are: Senior Medical Officer at the Bustamante Hospital, Dr. Michelle Ann Richards-Dawson; Chairman of the hospital, Kenneth Benjamin; Director of Nursing Services, Patricia Ingram Martin; Director of Shaggy Make a Difference Foundation, Orville ‘Shaggy’ Burrell; Owner, Solid Agency Limited, Sharon Burke; Administrator, Bustamante Hospital for Children, Kathleen Cooper Brown; Mr. Burrell’s wife Rebecca Packer Burrell; and Head of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Bustamante Hospital, Dr. Lambert Innis. Over $64 million was donated during the ceremony held at the hospital’s Arthur Wint Drive location on March 22.The Facts
- Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, in his address at the handover ceremony held at the hospital’s Arthur Wint Drive location in Kingston, expressed gratitude for the donation.
- In his remarks, Director of the Shaggy Make a Difference Foundation, Orville “Shaggy” Burrell, said he is looking to involve more overseas donors in the fundraising effort.
The Full Story
The Bustamante Hospital for Children has received $64.7 million in donation to assist its development initiatives.
Of the sum, $55 million came from the Shaggy Make a Difference Foundation, representing funds from the Shaggy and Friends charity concert in January.
The Wisynco Group handed over $8.2 million, while Stewart’s Automotive Group donated $1.5 million.
Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, in his address at the handover ceremony held at the hospital’s Arthur Wint Drive location in Kingston, expressed gratitude for the donation.
He said that such contribution to the health sector helps to address the gaps that exist and “will always be welcomed.”
“When someone or an entity wants to provide support, we have to demonstrate that we need that support, we mustn’t discourage it,” he noted.
Chairman, Bustamante Hospital for Children Foundation, Kenneth Benjamin, thanked the Shaggy Make a Difference Foundation for its continued support to the facility.
He informed that to date, nearly J$200 million (US$1.6 million) has been raised through the annual Shaggy and Friends concert, which has helped in the acquisition of over 450 pieces of life-saving equipment for the hospital.
This level of support, he said, has “greatly increased the hospital’s capacity to provide quality health care for the children of Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.”
Mr. Benjamin said the funds raised from this year’s concert will go towards the upkeep and purchase of well-needed equipment.
In his remarks, Director of the Shaggy Make a Difference Foundation, Orville “Shaggy” Burrell, said he is looking to involve more overseas donors in the fundraising effort.
“We have a long way to go and I am still looking at new ways and ideas in which we can improve and involve more overseas donors. Hopefully, we can have some more relationships with these international people to come on board for a little cause,” he said.
He also thanked the artistes, who support the annual concert. “I just want to say thanks to those who have helped throughout the years to make this what it is,” he said.