04/24/2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Team Jamaica Bickle Expands Incentive Program at 2026 Penn Relays, Increasing Prize Support and Broadening Athlete Impact
Philadelphia, PA – April 2026 — Team Jamaica Bickle continues its commitment to supporting Jamaican student-athletes at the Penn Relays with a significant expansion of its incentive program, increasing overall prize support and extending opportunities across both track and field events.
Building on last year’s successful launch, the organization will once again award prize money to the schools of Jamaican high school boys’ and girls’ teams that win the Championship of America 4x100, 4x400, and 4x800-meter relays. For 2026, each winning team will receive a $1,000 USD contribution to their respective school.
This year, Team Jamaica Bickle is expanding its field event incentives to include the high school championship discus, shot put, triple jump, and long jump. The top-performing Jamaican high school boy and girl in each event will earn a $1,000 USD donation to their school, ensuring broader recognition across multiple disciplines.
In addition to high school awards, the 2026 program introduces incentives for tertiary institutions, with two $1,000 USD prizes designated for Jamaican college teams. This expansion reflects a growing commitment to supporting student-athletes throughout their academic and athletic journey.
All awarded funds will be directed to each school’s nutrition program, reinforcing the organization’s commitment to fueling student-athlete health, recovery, and performance beyond competition.
This year’s expanded initiative has been made possible through continued partnerships, along with the establishment of a new sponsorship from the Burton–Hutchinson Family Fund, which contributed an additional $5,000 USD to further enhance the program’s reach and impact.
“The Burton–Hutchinson Family Fund is proud to support Team Jamaica Bickle’s School Nutrition Program,” said Julie Hutchinson. “This investment reflects both our belief in the program’s continued success and a personal connection to its impact. Our family’s journey was shaped by similar opportunities that empowered our patriarch, Dr. Gladstone ‘Fluney’ Hutchinson, to pursue significant scholar-athletic achievement. We are committed to helping ensure the next generation has access to that same foundation.”
“At Team Jamaica Bickle, nutrition is at the heart of what we do,” said Irwine G. Clare, Snr., Chairman/CEO of Team Jamaica Bickle. “Proper nutrition is essential to performance, recovery, and overall well-being. By directing these funds to school-based nutrition programs, we are making a direct investment in our student-athletes, ensuring they are properly fueled to compete at a high level and succeed beyond the track.”
Team Jamaica Bickle extends its sincere appreciation to its generous sponsors—Second Round Foundation, Grand Slam, ON, and the Burton–Hutchinson Family Fund—as well as its supporters whose contributions continue to make this work possible.
