HALF Moon, through its Guest Dollar Donation programme, last year raised $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 heart-warming 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 of Barrett Town All Age. They also refurbished and extended the kindergarten one and two classrooms, and later in the year a further donation four computers and a printer was made to the library.“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,” Half Moon said in a release.It added that being a certified Green Globe resort, environmental protection and preservation are important to the resort, and so last year a donation of $500,000 to the Montego Bay Marine Park Trust enabled the organisation to carry out several sensitisation activities around environmental and climate literacy, such as the school’s recycling programme.Crichton said she believes 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 noted.In addition to the 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 kilogrammes of schools supplies which were donated to the Barrett Town All Age School, SOS Children’s Village, and the Granville Child Care Facility,” Half Moon said.