Organisers target US$1m for Jamaica Strong relief concert at UBS Arena
Published:Tuesday | November 18, 2025 | 12:08 AMAnthony Turner/Gleaner Writer
QUEENS, NY:
Organisers of the Jamaica Strong benefit concert scheduled for Friday, December 12, at the UBS Arena in New York have announced an ambitious target to raise US$1 million for the Jamaica hurricane relief effort.
“My goal is to make at least a million dollars for the Jamaica Strong Relief Concert,” Jammins Entertainment CEO George Crooks said at the recently held ‘Jamaica Strong’ relief radiothon at the De Islands Restaurant in Queens. Thousands of dollars of relief items were dropped off by patriotic Jamaicans and friends of Jamaica and will be packaged and shipped to the island.
“That is the minimum we’re looking for at this event. We are gonna lift the roof off UBS arena,” Crooks said, indicating that the goal reflects the scale of the crisis in Jamaica and the strength of the diaspora to answer the call.
The December 12 concert at UBS Arena will feature an all-star roster, including headliners Shaggy, Sean Paul, KES, Inner Circle, Ky-Mani Marley, Tessanne Chin, Aidonia, Chronic Law, T.O.K, Gramps Morgan, Richie Stephens, and Mikey Spice. The most recent additions to the line up include Reggae Queen Marcia Griffiths, I-Octane and gospel singer Kevin Downswell. Organisers say calls are coming in daily from other reggae and dancehall acts so they anticipate more announcements will be made shortly.
Bobby Clarke, CEO of NY-based Irie Jam Foundation announced that rising singer Aiesha Barrett’s patriotic song, Jamaica Strong, has been selected as the official theme song for the UBS I Love Jamaica relief concert. The song was released in the aftermath of hurricane Melissa which made landfall in St Elizabeth on October 28.
Barrett is the daughter of the late Aston ‘Familyman’ Barrett, the legendary bassist who played with Bob Marley and the Wailers.
This historic event which is being produced under the “I Love Jamaica Concert Series” in partnership with the Government of Jamaica will raise critical funds for the nation’s official Hurricane Relief & Recovery Fund, aiding families and communities devastated by Hurricane Melissa.
Net proceeds from the event will be distributed transparently to approved beneficiaries.
Tickets are currently on sale at ticketmaster.