Retired Jamaican Olympian and current Marketing Manager for Running at Puma, Juliet Campbell, is set to give back to her roots with an initiative aimed at uplifting the communities in Eastern Kingston where she grew up. On December 22, Campbell will host a Kids Fest and Community Yard Sale at Harbour View Primary School, marking the start of her efforts to make a meaningful and lasting impact in the area.
“So, I am from that area,” said Campbell, a three-time Olympian, 2000 World Indoor 200m gold medalist, and 2003 World Championships 200m bronze medalist. “I can pretty much claim to be from Rockfort, all the way back to Shooters Hill in Bull Bay, with a little stint in Hagley Gap out in St Thomas. Went to Harbour View Primary, went to Donald Quarrie Secondary before I left for St Jago High School.”
The event, she explained, is the first step in her broader plans to support and engage the community. “I am putting on a Kids Fest and a community yard sale on December 22 at the Harbour View Primary School, just to meet the people and let them know what’s going on and start from there. It’s a stepping stone in big plans that I have for Harbour View, especially Harbour View Primary, where I am going to be very intentional about helping them to develop their sports programme. That field right there is where my athletic career started.”
Alvin Walters, Principal of Harbour View Primary welcomes the initiative and is cautiously optimistic about what lies ahead.
“We appreciate the initiative and we look forward to see what comes of the Kids Fest, the proceeds of that, in part, would go to the school to assist us with our sports programme,” he told Sportsmax.TV.
“It is something that would be ongoing and as an Olympian, she is looking forward to seeing how that impacts us positively as a school.”
Campbell has quietly supported the community for years but is now moving toward a more structured approach. “I do stuff in the area, privately, but now I am branching out with a foundation, helping and doing more with the community and the kids there. This is just kind of an initiation to test the waters to see what direction I’m going.”
Her commitment to giving back stems from her upbringing and the example set by her mother. “I have helped so many persons through my mother (Ms Lorraine). I remember there was even a child who had a disability and needed some special shoes. I paid for the shoes. My mother takes money and cooks for the elderly, takes food for the shut-ins. I have paid medical bills, school fees, you name it, I have done it in the community.”
This event will fund further initiatives. “The vendors who are coming in to sell their goods will have to pay a fee to secure their spots, all that money will be donated to Harbour View Primary,” Campbell said. “The reception so far has been really good but regardless of how it turns out, it won’t stop me from continuing the plan. It’s just for me to get a feel of the temperature of the community.”
Among Campbell’s future plans is a bakery initiative that would provide both skills and employment opportunities. “I know of an organization overseas, a Fortune 500 company. Their charity of choice is that they go into countries and communities and set up state-of-the-art bakeries for young people to enhance their skills and earn a living by baking,” she said. “I know quite well the persons that run that initiative, that’s among the initiatives I have planned.”
Campbell’s concerns extend to the youth in Shooters Hill, where she sees opportunities for intervention. “I really don’t like what I see when I drive up there. The young people seem so lost, they’re just hanging out and that can’t be good. I know that there are opportunities in the country for these persons to develop themselves to gain skills and to earn, but the motivation doesn’t seem to be there, so I am going to try to inject a little positivity and energy.”
Campbell is determined to uplift the community that shaped her. “I am looking forward to going in and working with and developing our community,” she said.
The Kids Fest and Community Yard Sale represents just the beginning of Campbell’s ambitious plans, and her commitment to Eastern Kingston is sure to inspire others to follow her lead.
Leighton Levy is a journalist with 28 years’ experience covering crime, entertainment, and sports. He joined the staff at SportsMax.TV as a content editor two years ago and is enjoying the experience of developing sports content and new ideas. At SportsMax.tv he is pursuing his true passion - sports.
Olympian Juliet Campbell donates Puma spikes to aid underserved Jamaican schools
Three-time Jamaican Olympian and Puma’s Marketing Manager for Running, Juliet Campbell, demonstrated her commitment to supporting grassroots athletics in Jamaica by donating approximately 80 pairs of competition spikes to six schools at the Jamaica Athletic Administrative Association (JAAA) headquarters in Kingston on Friday.
The beneficiaries included Excelsior High, York Castle High, Steer Town Academy, Harbour View Primary, Garvey Maceo High, and Marcus Garvey High School. These schools, not currently sponsored by Puma, often face challenges in acquiring proper athletic equipment.
“Outside of Puma’s sponsorship of some Jamaican schools, there are still a number of schools that are struggling for equipment,” Campbell explained. “These are not sponsored schools, but I am just helping.”
The donation is a significant boost for schools like York Castle and Steer Town, where resources are limited. Marvin Johnson, who coaches at both institutions, expressed gratitude for the donation, which included 13 pairs of spikes for his athletes.
Coach Johnson collecting competition spikes from Juliet Campbell on Friday.
“At York Castle, we have a very large squad of about 33 athletes, and the principal has been doing his best to support the program financially,” Johnson said. “But when it comes to footwear, it’s very difficult to get. These spikes will cover about 50 per cent of our athletes and are a big boost as we prepare for Champs (ISSA Boys and Girls Championships).”
Johnson anticipates a 60-40 split in favour of York Castle due to its larger team size and higher number of potential qualifiers for Champs.
Garvey Maceo’s coach, Tatiana Smith, echoed similar sentiments. The school received about a dozen pairs of spikes, including specialized ones for jumping events. She highlighted the impact of the donation on her program, which operates in a school where track and field is not a dominant sport.
“This will help us a whole lot because over the years we have had to seek outside sponsors for spikes, as most of our students can’t afford them,” Smith said. “We won’t have students sharing spikes anymore. With what we have now, each athlete will have a pair of spikes for themselves.”
By providing access to quality equipment, Campbell’s donation not only alleviates financial strain on schools but also helps athletes focus on their training and development as they prepare for major competitions. For these schools, the donation represents more than just new gear—it’s a step towards fostering talent, building confidence, and inspiring future generations of Jamaican athletes.
Tennis Jamaica President Azar expects competitive matches all the way throughout All Jamaica Open Tennis Championships
The 2024 All Jamaica Open Tennis Championships are set for December 14-21 at the Eric Bell National Tennis Center in Kingston.
Players from all over the island and based all over the world will descend upon the home of Tennis in the country and compete in categories such as the Men’s and Women’s Open as well as Junior Boys and Girls in the 12, 14, 16 and 18 categories.
“The All Jamaica is certainly shaping up to be a wonderful event,” said Tournament Director, David Sanguinetti, at a press conference on Friday.
“The entries are through the roof. We have roughly 120 juniors. All in all, the numbers are fantastic and we haven’t seen numbers like this in the juniors in some time,” he added.
In the Men’s Open, players like Randy Phillips, Dwayne Pagon, Damion Johnson, Daniel Azar and Nicholas Gore are expected to contend for the top prize in the absence of players like Blaise Bicknell, who can’t play this tournament due to a protective ranking, and John Chin, who is missing out due to illness.
Tennis Jamaica President John Azar outlined what fans can expect from these championships.
“The main thing that spectators can look out for is competitive matches. High level competition across all categories. We have our top junior playing all categories. In the Men’s Open, outside of two of our top players, literally everybody else has entered the event in terms of players who are making their mark on the local scene,” he said.
“Normally, in events like this, you may find from the quarterfinals onward, the matches start to get very interesting. I’m expecting fully well that, in the Men’s Open, from the first round you’re going to have some very, very good and competitive matchups,” he added.
One concern brought up during Friday’s proceedings was damage caused to the courts at the Eric Bell Center due to Hurricane Beryl.
Azar assured that the relevant repairs to the court have been made and no hiccups are expected during the tournament.
“We’re fully expecting that the place will be in pristine condition. It’s important to be continually upgrading and maintaining our facilities to make sure they always remain at a certain standard,” he said.
Sponsors for this year’s championships include GK General Insurance, Konnex as well as the Sports Development Foundation.
Julien Alfred invests in luxury property to support her foundation: developer to match proceeds
St Lucia's first-ever Olympic gold medalist, Julien Alfred, has made a significant investment in her homeland by purchasing a luxury apartment at the newly developed Cas en Bas Beach Resort in Cap Estate. The announcement by Wellington Estates, the developer of the resort, highlights a milestone for the 23-year-old sprinting sensation, whose achievements continue to inspire the Caribbean and beyond.
The property acquisition is part of Alfred's strategic financial planning and her commitment to giving back. The managed unit, nestled near the scenic Rodney Bay, not only serves as a personal retreat but also represents an opportunity to generate funds for the Julien Alfred Foundation. The foundation, launched in April 2024, provides school supplies and athletic equipment to underprivileged children across St Lucia.
Demonstrating her dedication to her community, Alfred has pledged a portion of the rental income from her unit to support the foundation's programs. In a generous show of support, British entrepreneur Edward Wellington, founder of Wellington Estates, has committed to matching Alfred's contributions indefinitely, amplifying the impact of her charitable efforts.
Alfred's connection to Cas en Bas Beach Resort extends beyond property ownership. Starting in 2026, she will represent the resort as its exclusive Hotel Ambassador for an eight-year period. This partnership aligns with her current role as St Lucia's Tourism Ambassador, a position she assumed after her historic Olympic triumph.
The resort itself is poised to become a premier destination in the Caribbean, offering a blend of cutting-edge technology, personalized service, and exclusive experiences. Located between the St. Lucia Golf & Country Club and the Cabot golf estate, the property boasts a pristine one-kilometre white sand beach and will feature a dynamic mix of dining, nightlife, and entertainment options.
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