Current events
ANNUAL BENEFIT DINNER AT THE PUBLIC THEATER
PREVIOUS EVENTS
SUMMER RAFFLE
June 2021 – August 2021
The 2021 Rockhouse Foundation Summer Raffle was a great success, exceeding our goal and raising over $107,000. Thanks to all those that supported us. We are pleased to announce the winners:
1st prize – Rockhouse trip flying JetBlue *James Ector
2nd prize – Skylark Negril trip flying JetBlue *Bess Fifer
3rd prize – Dinner for 10 at Miss Lily’s *William Obrien
4th prize – 3 nights at Jake’s Resort *Sharon Lucius
5th prize – 5 days of Spa treatments *Briant Hamrell
6th prize – Golf for 2 at Tryall Club *Terry Igell
7th prize – Dinner for 2 at Zimbali *Jeffrey Bashore
8th prize – Dinner for 2 at The Caves *Matthew Zucker
9th prize – Dinner for 2 at Ivan’s *Susan Binch
10th prize – Dinner for 2 at Tensing Pen *Shelley Paulson
“TEACH DI YUTES” CAMPAIGN
Dec 2020 – May 2021
Without our regular annual fundraising event we establishing this campaign as the primary source for underwriting our activities for the the first half of 2021. The funds raised underwrote our Food Security, Online and In Person Learning Support, further expansion of the Sav Inclusive School, and Ongoing Programatic and Maintenance Support for our Partner Schools. See More
2020 COVID-19 RELIEF FUND
April – May 2020 Negril, Jamaica
In response to COVID related emergency challenges the Rockhouse Foundation in March 2020 began weekly distributions of food staples to our most vulnerable families at the partner schools. To fund this ongoing program a GoFundMe Campaign was launched, turning to their network of generous and loyal donors, the Covid Relief Fund raised over US$100,000 within a matter of weeks. The campaign culminated in and instagram live benefit concert featuring long term supporters Chronixx and Shaggy.
With the generous support of the TUI Cares Foundation we broadened this initiative to include four additional schools, distributed more than 100 tons of food staples over the fist year. See More
MARCUS SAMUELSSON DINNER AT SKYLARK
December 2019 Negril, Jamaica
What would you say Ethiopia and Jamaica have in common? A whole lot more after Sunday, December 29 when Ethiopian-born chef Marcus Samuelsson hosted an Ethopian-Jamaican fusion four-course meal for the annual Rockhouse Foundation’s Benefit Dinner! The dinner took place at the iconic Miss Lily’s’ restaurant’s new outpost in Negril, in none other than Skylark, the newly opened spunky younger-sister property of Rockhouse. The evening’s menu was a face-off between the two countries’ cuisines, but the real winning ticket was the over- J$4 million (US$30,000) raised by guests for the Rockhouse Foundation’s initiative to improve education in western Jamaica. See More
ANNUAL BENEFIT DINNER AT THE PUBLIC THEATER
October 2019 NYC
In 2019 the Rockhouse Foundation continued its run of ever more successful Annual Benefits at the 15th annual dinner and performance at Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater in New York City. With Rockhouse, Skylark and Miss Lily’s paying all the event’s expenses, US$250,000 was raised. The menu was a collaboration by Chef Marcus Samuelsson, together with Jamaica’s own Andre Fowles and Chef John Ramirez from Andrew Carmellini’s Kitchen at Joe’s Pub & The Library. New board member, Jamaican born Sean Legister gave a heartfelt speech about his connection to the foundation and its work in Jamaica. Afterwards, Paul Issa, Chairman of the Issa Foundation gave a thank-you speech on behalf of the people of Jamaica. And to close the night Ky-Mani Marley bellowed his father’s great song “One Love,” a feeling that encapsulated the whole evening. See More
RAFFLE DRAW & SPRING DINNER AT MISS LILY’S
May 2019 NYC
Thanks to all those who so generously supported the Rockhouse Foundation Raffle and Spring Dinner. We raised over US$60,000! Every cent of every contribution goes towards our projects with all costs underwritten by Miss Lily’s, Rockhouse & Skylark Hotels. Special thanks to Rhy Waddington & Sam Whitford, Adam Schop and the Miss Lily’s Team, Tara Harrison and Max Glazer for the music and JetBlue, our longstanding sponsor.
Congratulations to our Spring Raffle drawing winners!
SUMMER LEADERSHIP CAMP
July 2019 Negril, Jamaica
Conducted every summer for the past 7 years, this 10 day program immerses teenagers as camp counselors at the Moreland Hill Summer School during the days, and exposes the group to community life in Western Jamaica through a series of programed activities. The group stays at Rockhouse and Skylark hotels. Participants work together with a team of local councillors and learn from their interactions with the subsistence farming community of Moreland Hill.
CHEF NINA COMPTON AT SKYLARK
July 2018 Negril Jamaica
On July 28th 2018 Skylark Negril Beach Resort and Chef Andre Fowles, hosted the St Lucian star chef Nina Compton for an intimate 5 course jerk themed dinner benefiting the Rockhouse Foundation. The James Beard Foundation recently named Compton it’s Best Chef: South and she was named one of Food & Wine’s “Best New Chefs” in 2017. The Benefit Dinner raised US$10,000 for the Rockhouse Foundation.
24 HOUR TECHNOLOGY TURN DOWN
May 2018 NYC
Turn “off” your technology and turn “on” technology for school children in Jamaica. The challenge: Turn off all forms of technology for 24 hours, i.e., no video or computer games, television, Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, personal emails, phone calls or texting. And our amazing crew of teenagers rose to the challenge and raised over US$30,000. We did make an exception for legitimate work, school projects and emergency telephone use so we didn’t stop all momentum for the kids. Funds raised from the Turn Down supported the Rockhouse Foundation’s technology commitment to its partner schools, as well as Sav Inclusive School!