Kids at the Black River Hospital in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica now have a comfortable area, The Jazmin Headley Corner, to read, play and relax while they recuperate, thanks to the philanthropic efforts of 12-year-old Jamaican-Canadian singer and actress Jazmin Headley, who donated a selection of books, dolls, interactive toys and games to the hospital.
Headley made headlines a few months ago when she teamed up with New York-based singer Nigy Boy on the hit gospel single, “Goodness of God,” that has amassed over a half million plays on the social media platform Instagram, Jamaican entertainment publicist Anthony Turner told Caribbean Life on Tuesday.
The New York-based Turner said that the Jazmin Headley Corner, which was officially opened on Oct. 23 on the Pediatric Ward of the Black River Hospital, was outfitted to the tune of US over US$5,000.
Headley told Caribbean Life that her parents influenced her decision to donate to the kids.
“My parents always told me that they did not have a lot growing up. That has inspired me to help young kids, especially those living in Jamaica,” she said. “So, instead of taking, I decided to give.”
Headley also presented a patient monitor, valued at US$3,000.00, to the healthcare institution. The monitor was donated to Jazmin’s JazzMe Foundation by Julian Rodney, chief executive officer of the East Health Technology Services LTD in Kingston, Jamaica.
Diana Brown-Miller, chief executive officer of the Black River Hospital, was grateful for the donations.
“The toys will serve to stimulate the children, provide occupational therapy and help to pass time while they are away from home,” she said, adding that the patient monitor is “a critical piece of equipment used to monitor our very ill patients.
“It provides health care workers with vital signs reading which, in turn, assists them with further management and decision making in regard to the care of the patient,” Brown-Miller continued.
A day earlier, Turner said Headley outfitted a Jazmin Headley Corner at the staff daycare at the Victoria Jubilee hospital (VJH) with a selection of books, dolls and games.
He said the Jazmin Headley Corner will be utilized by children of staff at the Kingston Public and Victoria Jubilee hospitals in Kingston.
The staff daycare, which serves children of all categories of employees at the adjoining hospitals, has been transformed through a donation of more than Can$15,000.00, Turner said.
He said the initiative was executed through Jazmin’s JazzMe Foundation, with sponsorship from Emirates Facial & Dental Implant Centre in Kingston and Cal’s Distributors, which were present at the handover ceremony.
Turner said Headley began her philanthropic journey four years ago, during COVID-19 pandemic, after receiving birthday gifts that she decided to give away.
He said the Jamaican-Canadian prodigy “turned heads recently with her cover song titled ‘Goodness of God,’ which premiered on PIX11 TV in New York on Sept. 7, which coincided with the screening of MGM movie ‘The Fire Inside,’ which was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).” Headley plays young “T-Rex” Shields, a boxer from Flint, Michigan in the movie.
“The screening created an immediate buzz, and an Oscar nomination for the movie is already being talked about by industry insiders,” Turner said.
He said “The Fire Inside,” which will be released nationally in the U.S. on Dec. 25, 2024 was directed by Rachel Morrison, who was nominated for an Academy Award for the movie “Mudbound” (2017). Morrison also worked on the film “Black Panther” (2018).
