US executive with J’can roots boosts Glenmuir

A donation of US$100,000 (approximately J$16 million) has been secured to rehabilitate critical infrastructure at Glenmuir High School in Clarendon, breathing new life into a space central to its academic and cultural identity.

The contribution was made by US-born philanthropist, investor, and real estate executive Dale Burnett through the Burnett Charitable Fund. Having no prior affiliation with the Anglican institution, Burnett said he undertook a deliberate search for a school in need. His criteria were: an institution which bore the brunt of Hurricane Melissa, demonstrates strong academic performance, and upholds enduring Christian values.

The funds, facilitated through a partnership with the National Education Trust (NET), are earmarked for the restoration of the school's auditorium roof, which sustained extensive damage during the passage of the category five system last October. The official handover ceremony was held on Monday. Burnett issued a stirring appeal for a culture of giving--one unbound by wealth, but anchored in willingness.

"The money that my family is giving today is a matter of choice. People tend to wait until they have so much money that they don't have to care about the choice to give it. I'm not giving today because I'm a billionaire, I'm giving because I choose to give back to Jamaica, and I hope everyone will adopt this mantra," said Burnett, a founding partner and managing director of BIG Equity Investors. He has deployed more than US$14 billion in equity into global real estate projects and serves on several boards, including the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. He also serves as chairman of the Praxis Supportive Housing Foundation, which provides transitional housing, health, and social services to vulnerable populations.

Grounding his philanthropy in personal ethos, Burnett underscored that his actions are shaped by values instilled in him from an early age--principles imparted by his Jamaican parents. For Burnett, giving is both a moral imperative and a continuation of the investments made in him.

"And I hope that the word of this will spread far and wide, because there are many people in Jamaica, and in America, far richer than I am, that could do much more--and I want them to want to do more," he added.

For the school community, the donation signifies far more than structural repair. Acting Principal Howard Edwards reflected on the centrality of the auditorium--named in honour of founding principal Sydney Scott--to the life of the institution.

"The school's auditorium is a central space for assemblies, graduation ceremonies, cultural events, and community partnerships. This investment will restore and preserve a cornerstone of the school's social and academic life for generations to come.

"So, today is not defined by damage, but by generosity. This act of giving is more than a donation; it is an investment in our students, their potential, and the future of Jamaica, and by extension, the world at large," Edwards said.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth, Skills and Information, Rhoda Moy Crawford, described the contribution as "an investment in resilience... a demonstration of partnership, and a commitment to the future of our children". She noted that more than 700 public schools across the island were damaged during the hurricane, exposing longstanding infrastructural vulnerabilities and disrupting the education of thousands. She also commended the NET for its role in mobilising resources, coordinating partnerships, and ensuring support reaches the institutions most in need.

Adding her voice, NET's Director of Donor and Partnership Management, Keisha Johnson, urged school administrators to seek the organisation's assistance, emphasising its commitment to national school development.

Lauding Burnett's generosity, Johnson noted that such acts of international goodwill carry profound significance. Since its establishment in 2010, NET says it has built a strong reputation for efficiency, accountability, and the delivery of coordinated, cost-effective support to both donors and beneficiaries.