STUDENTS at Jacks Hill Primary School and Higholborn Street Basic School have received much-needed resources through financial support generated by the inaugural Do Good Pickleball Tourney.

Hosted by One Great Studio (1GS) and Myers, Fletcher & Gordon (MF&G) on September 20, the tournament raised over $2.6 million for the schools, with approximately $1.3 million allocated to each school to provide essential resources and enhanced learning environments towards overall development.

As a part of their donation, Higholborn Street Basic received a fully off-grid solar system from STL Solar Limited, providing sustainable energy, reducing operating costs, and ensuring long-term energy independence for the school.

The donation to Jacks Hill Primary and Infant School will support classroom improvements, facility maintenance, and much-needed learning resources as the school population grows.

Ayodele Taylor-McDonald, principal, shared her gratitude.

“We have a wide range of needs, and this donation has exceeded my expectations, allowing us to address many of our more pressing ones,” she said. “A huge thank you to One Great Studio and Myers, Fletcher & Gordon for the support, because this will go a very long way.”

Jermaine Nairne, school chairman, also expressed his appreciation. “We’ve always believed that to be the great institution we aspire to be, support from the wider community is essential. Today marks the start of some great things, and we know this contribution will greatly benefit the entire school community, especially the students. We are truly grateful,” he said.

At Higholborn Street Basic, the funds will go towards rebuilding what Hurricane Melissa made even more fragile, while also helping the school reach long-awaited Early Childhood Commission certification. Principal Mariephil Ridguard recounted some of the challenges faced.

“The roof, which had been leaking for some time, suffered further damage during the storm, and water damage to the electrical system has left one classroom and the kitchen without power,” she said.

In expressing her gratitude, she added, “We are truly grateful for this help. It allows us to carry out the necessary repairs and restore a comfortable learning environment for our students.”

In addition to financial support, STL Solar Limited has equipped Higholborn Street Basic with a fully off-grid solar system featuring six 550W south-facing panels (3,300W total), a 5kWh lithium-ion phosphate battery, and an 8kW hybrid inverter, producing an average of 16kWh of energy per day. This system will sustainably power the school, reduce operating costs, and provide long-term energy independence.

Recycling Partners of Jamaica will also be installing recycling receptacles at both schools in 2026, helping to reduce waste while enabling the institutions to earn additional income by collecting and selling recyclable bottles.

Both Gina DeLisser, chief operations officer of 1GS, and Christopher Kelman, managing partner at MF&G, highlighted that initiatives like these show how the private sector can play a transformative role in supporting local schools.

“We believe that meaningful impact starts with education. Seeing how the tournament, supported by its main sponsors STL Solar, Sterling Asset Management, Sagicor Investments and Fraser Fontaine & Kong, directly benefits students is incredibly rewarding,” DeLisser said.

“We hope this inspires more businesses to invest in Jamaica’s future.” Kelman added. “The Do Good Pickleball Tourney demonstrates what is possible when the private sector comes together to uplift our communities. We are proud to support initiatives that help students reach their full potential.”

Ayodele Taylor-McDonald (2nd left), principal, and Jermaine Nairne (2nd right), chairman of Jacks Hill Primary and Infant School receive a $1.3 million donation from Gina DeLisser (left), chief operations officer; Robynn Lee, business development officer, and Djuvane Browne, chief executive officer of One Great Studio, alongside Shaniel May Brown (right), partner at Myers, Fletcher & Gordon.