When Hurricane Melissa tore through Jamaica in 2025, it left behind flattened homes and shattered infrastructure, it exposed the fragile reality of communities standing at the frontlines of climate-driven disasters. The Category 5 storm was the strongest ever recorded to hit the island. Indo-Canadian business leader Reetu Gupta did not see the devastation as a headline to scroll past but a call to action. The CEO of The Gupta Group stepped forward with more than CA$105,000 in donations aimed at both immediate relief and long-term recovery.
From emergency relief to long-term rebuilding
Gupta’s contributions were thoughtfully channelled to address both urgent needs and sustainable rebuilding. A significant CA$50,000 was directed to GlobalMedic, an internationally respected emergency-response organisation delivering food kits, hygiene supplies, clean water systems and medical aid in disaster-hit regions. Importantly, Gupta didn’t limit her involvement to financial support alone. Alongside members of her team, she volunteered with GlobalMedic, personally helping pack emergency kits destined for western Jamaica.
Additional donations included CA$30,000 to Food For The Poor, supporting food distribution, shelter and emergency supplies for displaced families, and CA$25,000 to the Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation, focused on education-led rebuilding, community development and long-term recovery initiatives. Gupta also extended her support to Harmonies of Hope, a fundraising initiative backed by the Jamaica Tourist Board and Jamaica’s diplomatic missions in Canada, aimed at rebuilding homes, schools, public spaces and critical infrastructure damaged by the hurricane.
Devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica | Photo Credit : Reuters
Giving back with purpose and heart
For Gupta, the connection to Jamaica runs deeper than a single act of generosity. With a strong Jamaican diaspora in Canada and a long-standing belief in community-driven leadership, her response reflects values shaped by years of philanthropic engagement.
Every human deserves love, dignity, and care. Jamaica is facing a humanitarian crisis, and in moments like this, we are called to show up for one another. Jamaica has given so much to the world—its culture, its music, its spirit, and with such a strong Jamaican diaspora here in Canada, now is our time to give back with love.
Reetu Gupta
Born into the worlds of property development and hotels, armed with an MBA from the Schulich School of Business, and now leading one of Canada’s largest private hotel development firms, Reetu Gupta has consistently paired professional success with purposeful impact. Through the Gupta Family Foundation, Rogue Insight Capital, and initiatives like The Shakti Society, she has championed inclusion, mentorship and community resilience. In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, her response to Jamaica stands as a great example of how leadership is measured not only by growth and expansion, but by compassion in moments when it matters most.
