No gifts, just giving

On his birthday each year, Sheldon David Millington chooses not to receive gifts but to give one of the most powerful gifts he believes anyone can offer: education.

“One of the pillars of House of SDM is education,” 43-year-old Millington told The Gleaner yesterday, following the fifth staging of the House of SDM’s Educational Grant Ceremony on Sunday at the Holy Trinity High School. “On my birthday every year, what we do … is to offer an educational grant to 300 or 500 students, depending on the sponsorship. This year, we gave 300 children.”

The House of SDM is a charitable organisation, founded and led by Millington, built on the belief that education is one of the most powerful tools for breaking the cycle of poverty.

Each year, the organisation runs an open-application process, selects successful applicants from early childhood and primary levels across the island, and then sources and purchases every item on their booklists.

The initiative covers all textbooks and school supplies on the recipients’ school lists for the upcoming academic year.

“Instead of me receiving a gift, I give the gift of education because I believe that education is the weapon to fight poverty. Show me an educated nation, and I will show you a prosperous country,” Millington said.

Additionally, instead of giving cash, House of SDM delivers the actual books to ensure that the support directly benefits the students’ education.

This year’s grants, valued at approximately $3.5 million, were funded entirely from Millington’s personal savings and contributions from friends, family, and supporters who sent amounts ranging from $5,000 to $15,000.

“There were no corporate sponsors to the grants,” he noted.

The event was additionally supported with tokens and refreshments from brands such as World Brands, Proven Wealth, Tortuga Caribbean, and Paradise Catering.

In its five years, the House of SDM has assisted more than 2,000 children. Last year alone, 400 students benefited.

“It’s all depending on how we can afford it,” Millington said, adding that his long-term dream is to “bring everybody right to the end of their educational journey up to tertiary”.

Seeds of Success

The 2025 ceremony was held under the theme ‘Seeds of Success: Nurturing Young Leaders’.

Millington explained, “All of the recipients are our leaders. When we plant a seed … and we nurture them through the educational grant, through the mentorship programme … then they will become the great leader that we envision them to be.”

Additionally, while addressing the parents and children in attendance, he reflected on the purpose behind the grant, saying, “Today, we are not just awarding grants – we are investing in dreams. We are saying to each recipient: ‘We believe in you. We believe in your ability to rise, to lead, and to shape a future that is brighter, bolder, and more inclusive … .’ Education is the great equaliser. It opens doors, expands minds, and transforms lives.”

As for the recipients and their families, the impact remains steadfast.

Mahea Sinclair, a single mother of two, received the grant for her five-year-old son, Azhair Williams. Her 11-year-old daughter, Kednasiel Williams, applied but was not selected this year. But Sinclair has great hopes for her daughter next year.

“It’s a great opportunity for parents like me,” Sinclair said. “Getting the additional help is great, and I really do appreciate it. It’s not about how big it is. It’s about that you receive something for your child in regards to educational purposes.”

Sinclair, whose children’s father passed away, said having the necessary school equipment helps her kids to stay right on track in the classroom and not be left out.

“They are a part of everything or every activity that is going on while they have their tools and resources for school.”

Meanwhile, for Shantel Boothe, whose sons, nine-year old Tyrone Baker and eight-year-old Jaden Baker, both received grants this year, the benefit was just as personal. With two other book lists to take care of, the grant has lifted a significant weight off Boothe’s shoulders.

She knows first-hand the challenge of sourcing books based on her experience last year.

“Sometimes it’s hard to get the books. Very hard. I never got quite a few of them, but I got some used ones … and I worked with it.” she said, this time around being her second time applying.

In the interim, she recalled the other help she received, “Last year, a teacher lent me a book to print some stuff so that they could be able to fit in with the others.”

For other parents considering the programme, her advice is heartfelt, “It (grant) helps me a lot, and I would really introduce parents more, or someone who is more in need … (I would) give somebody else a chance to feel this way… to get the help that I get, the assistance, because it’s great, and it’s a great experience as well. Trust me, it helps a lot.”

Millington hopes the public will continue to contribute so that more students can benefit. “There are children … 700 children that would have applied that would need assistance. People call me daily,” he said, encouraging supporters to reach him via the House of SDM’s social media or by phone at (876) 436-1242.

Looking ahead, he has set a realistic but ambitious target, “Next year, I want to do 550.”

mickalia.kington@gleanerjm.com