Jamaica’s cricketers Nikita Miller, Jerome Taylor and Chadwick Walton, through their recently formed Miller Taylor Walton Foundation, made the first in a three-part donation to high schools across the island with a presentation to Munro College over a week ago.

Walton, the 29-year-old wicketkeeper/batsman, handed over cricket gear and equipment to Steve Cole, head of Munro College’s Physical Education department, on March 28 at Sabina Park.

The contribution included bats, balls and protective gear.

“It’s always a good feeling to give back to your alma mater and I hope the students can use it to further their cricket. I got help when I was playing as a youngster so it’s good to give back,” Walton told the Jamaica Observer.

While Walton attended Munro College, his West Indies teammates Miller and Taylor are past students of parish neighbours St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS). However, STETHS is not on their radar for this year.

Instead, it will be institutions from the corporate area to benefit next.

Walton, who has played two Test matches and five One-Day Internationals for the West Indies, said the other two targets for this year are Papine High and Kingston College.

“It is a series of presentations so the other two will be made later this year. It wasn’t totally random to pick the schools, but we sat to decide. Next year we will pick another three schools. And it is not only for high schools, we want to look at the primary level as well,” the aggressive batsman said.

He estimated that the items given to the three schools amounts close to $1 million and added that contribution has come from India-based sport equipment supplier SM Pintu.

Walton, who said that they also want to support cricket coaches with useful tips wherever possible, added that attention will also be paid to academic development.

“The focus is not only on cricket, because currently we are in dialogue with people from Atlanta who want to send school supplies,” he said, while explaining how the trio came together to launch the foundation.

“All three of us wanted to give back, and we joined because we come from the same geographical location in North East St Elizabeth,” he said.

Walton hails from the community of Siloah, while left-arm spinner Miller, 32, is from Williamsfield, and fast bowler Taylor, 30, is a native of Aberdeen.

— Sanjay Myers