MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica — The upcoming 10th anniversary of the Jill Stewart MoBay City Run received a monumental boost with Sandals Resorts International (SRI) Executive Chairman Adam Stewart announcing a landmark $6 million sponsorship for the event. This contribution, revealed during Tuesday’s media launch at S Club, represents a 100% increase over last year’s donation and sets a new benchmark for corporate support.
The substantial funding injection serves as both a celebration of the event’s decade-long impact and a critical response to educational infrastructure needs exacerbated by Hurricane Melissa’s devastation last October. Event conceptualizer Janet Silvera expressed profound gratitude, noting Sandals’ consistent support since the run’s inception 14 years ago as an initiative for education.
In a significant evolution, the event now carries the name of Adam Stewart’s late wife, Jill Stewart, whose legacy as a dedicated supporter has attracted increased community and business backing. Silvera emphasized that the rebranding has generated unprecedented generosity, enabling expanded outreach.
The 2026 edition adopts the theme ‘Run for Recovery… Run for Education’ with ambitious goals: directly investing $10 million into educational institutions, including five hurricane-damaged high schools and five longstanding tertiary beneficiaries. Organizers issued a compelling call to action for private sector entities, foundations, and the Jamaican diaspora to participate in school adoption programs, emphasizing that collective effort is essential for comprehensive recovery.
Montego Bay Mayor Richard Vernon endorsed the initiative, framing educational restoration as a civic imperative crucial for preventing learning loss and social disintegration. He highlighted the symbolic significance of routing the race through the city center as a public declaration that education occupies central importance in community life.
Since its establishment, the event has contributed $45 million to educational causes, with last year’s allocation reaching $12 million. The 2026 target of $15 million in donations reflects both the urgency of post-hurricane reconstruction and the event’s growing fundraising capabilities.