The Miami Heat will celebrate Jamaica Night on Tuesday, January 13, combining basketball, culture, and philanthropy as part of the team’s ongoing support for Jamaica’s recovery following Hurricane Melissa.
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According to The Gleaner, a portion of proceeds from the game will be donated to Jamaica’s hurricane rebuilding efforts. The Heat have already committed significant resources to the island’s recovery, pledging US$1 million and donating 68 tons of hurricane relief supplies, including food items and medical kits.
A spokeswoman for the Miami Heat told The Gleaner that Jamaican dancehall star Sean Paul is expected to attend the game and meet fans on the court at halftime. Special ticket packages will be offered, giving patrons access to an on-court meet-and-greet with the entertainer.
Funds raised through Jamaica Night will be channeled through Food For The Poor, an organization Sean Paul has been working closely with to deliver hurricane assistance to affected parishes across the island.
The initiative has also received support from within the Heat roster. Norman Powell, whose father is Jamaican and who represents Jamaica internationally, has personally donated US$100,000 toward hurricane relief through his foundation. Powell, a member of the Jamaican national basketball team, has long spoken about his pride in his Jamaican heritage and his strong ties to the country.
Jamaica’s Consul General to Miami, Oliver Mair, praised the Heat for what he described as meaningful corporate responsibility.
“The Miami Heat has long been an integral part of our community and has always reached out to the community whenever the need arises,” Mair said. “This is truly big and I congratulate the Miami Heat on this magnificent gesture.”
Mair also noted that the team hosted a Jamaica Night last year as part of its community outreach efforts. “The Miami Heat has always risen to the occasion when called on,” he added.
In October, the Heat had announced their US$1 million pledge to support Jamaica’s recovery initiatives, made in collaboration with the Micky & Madeleine Arison Family Foundation and Carnival Corporation & plc. That donation is benefiting Direct Relief, a humanitarian organization focused on providing essential medical supplies and resources in disaster-affected communities.
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“Our hearts go out to the people of Jamaica,” said Eric Woolworth, president of The Heat Group’s Business Operations, at the time. “In Florida, we are all too familiar with the widespread devastation caused by a Category 5 storm. Direct Relief provides life-saving and ongoing assistance, which is so critical as residents begin the long road to rebuilding their communities.”
Tuesday’s Jamaica Night is expected to further spotlight the ongoing recovery efforts while celebrating Jamaican culture and the island’s deep ties to South Florida.