KINGSTON, Jamaica – Osbourne “Peanut Dread” Ellis, the popular social media personality who has fallen on hard times, on Monday received a donation of $100,000 to assist him with outstanding medical bills at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI).

The donation was made by ‘Good Samaritans’ via Real Helping Hands (RHH), a Caribbean-focused fintech platform with the primary purpose of providing a structured online framework to facilitate online fundraising efforts.

Peanut Dread was presented with the cheque by RHH County Director and Partner, Emprezz Golding, at his home in Papine, St Andrew on Monday.

Golding said RHH was “Grateful that we were able to use our platform to bring attention to his cause and I want to thank the Good Samaritans for responding with their kind donation.”

Ellis is a bonafide social media star with tens of thousands of subscribers to his YouTube channel, and has even been featured in songs and music videos. However, it was revealed late last year that, despite the fame, the popular storyteller known for the catchphrase ‘Radam!’ has been living in destitution.

Marketing strategist at RHH, Natasha Wiliams, heard about the Ellis’ dire situation and reached out to him in order to offer assistance through creating a campaign to raise funds for his needs through the crowdfunding platform.

“I later arranged an interview with Peanut Dread and invited the (Jamaica) Observer to cover the story, which sent shock waves across the country as most people were unaware of the seriousness and sad reality of his everyday life and health,” Williams explained.

READ: Peanut Dread living in destitution, cries out for help

“A few days later, a team member from a particular foundation who wishes to be identified as the ‘Good Samaritans,’ saw Peanut Dread’s campaign on RHH and his published story, then reached out to the Observer who contacted me and offered to assist Mr Ellis,” Williams continued. “Through continuous dialogues through RHH, a contribution of $100,000 was donated to RHH from the Good Samaritans to assist Peanut Dread with outstanding medical bills at the UHWI. The funds were later deposited to his account in which he successfully made payments to UHWI. The cheque was presented to Mr Ellis during a hand over ceremony held by RHH on Monday.”

Golding highlighted that the RHH has been other impactful campaigns, among them the case of dancehall icon Tiger, who suffered a stroke and needed financial aid for medical assistance.

“We were able to raise up to 65 per cent of (Tiger’s) funding goal target, which assisted greatly in his treatments,” said Golding.

She further expressed that RHH has been making a great impact throughout the region and also internationally with several successful campaigns in various categories such as education, since its inception in November 2020.

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“One such campaign saw a University graduate garnering a 100 per cent success rate for her campaign, surpassing her funding goal within one week of publishing her campaign on our website. She was able to clear all her University debts and purchase her graduation package with funds raised through the RHH platform,” said Golding.

Meanwhile, Peanut Dread expressed gratitude to both the RHH and the ‘Good Samaritans’ for the contribution and said that he was “really happy” that his story was given the attention it truly deserves.

“The one weh fi really respect is you (Natasha)…‘cause a you come first here to interview I and send I out and mek dem can really see seh…somebody really need assistance and I appreciate that. Plus, Real Helping Hands, I congratulate them so much because I really did need some attention and I see they don’t know me, I cannot give them back anything in return mi affi seh no good people inna earth ya man and I appreciate them so much;” expressed Ellis with a beaming smile.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who had used Peanut Dread’s viral catchphrase ‘Radam’ to bring across a message to those involved in crime, stating that the Government will impose harsher penalties on criminals, indicated that he would help Ellis get the assistance he desperately needs.

READ: Radam – PM reaches out to help Peanut Dread after Observer story