Shaggy’s Foundation Gives The Controversial $100 Million Raised To Bustamante Hospital For Children

The much talked about $100 million that the Shaggy Make a Difference Foundation raised five years ago has finally been disbursed to the Bustamante Hospital for Children in St Andrew to facilitate upgrades at the hospital.

A dispute over the proceeds of the last Shaggy and Friends benefit concert ensued for years between the government, the foundation, and the It Wasn’t Me deejay. Mainly due to the fact that the money was originally raised to purchase ICU beds, but the Government was determined to repurpose the funds to address other needs since the hospital at the time did not have the space to house the ICU beds.

The foundation’s founders, Orville Burrell, popularly known as Shaggy, and his wife Rebecca Packer were strongly opposed to turning over the funds to the government.

According to the foundation, the money raised was sitting in an interest-generating account for years. Since it was determined to be used for a purpose other than what it was intended for, it would be in violation of sections of the Charity Act.

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On the positive side, a number of initiatives will be implemented to improve young patient recovery at the more than half-century-old facility with the $100 million allocated, according to Kenneth Benjamin, who is the chairman of the hospital’s management committee.

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Additionally, Kenneth Benjamin said that the funds would be used to extend the intensive care unit (ICU), allowing sick children in the country to receive better care.

The Gleaner premiered the news about the handing over of the funds on Sunday.

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