Held on June 9th, 2025, the retreat brought together mothers who have experienced the unimaginable grief of losing a child, offering them space for therapy, reflection, and collective healing.

Foundation chair and mother of Botham Jean, Dr. Allison Jean, described the retreat as a powerful and emotionally moving experience that was well-received by participants.

“There seemed to be an overwhelming satisfaction with the retreat. Mothers were uplifted… it got emotional at times when they recounted their relationships with their loved ones. But all in all, there’s positive feedback,” she said.

Participants have already expressed interest in making the retreat an annual event, a testament to the comfort and community it fostered.

Driven by the legacy of her late son, Dr. Jean remains deeply committed to the foundation's mission.

“That’s my labour of love,” she said. “It’s driven by the energy that Botham exuded when he was alive. These are things he would have done if he were still here with us.”

In addition to its healing initiatives, the foundation is set to launch the 2025 BJ-YES (Botham Jean Youth Empowerment Summer) Program in July. The program, which provides skills training and personal development opportunities for young people, is scheduled to run from July 14th to August 13th, with opening ceremonies on July 9th in the north and July 10th in the south of the island.

“We usually sponsor a hundred students. Last year we had about 160. This year, we’re hoping to sponsor just as many in the two locations,” Dr. Jean said.

The foundation will culminate its year of initiatives with the annual Red Tie Gala in Saint Lucia this September, continuing its work of transforming lives in memory of Botham Jean.

For more information about the foundation’s work or to support its programs, visit the Botham Jean Foundation online at https://bothamjeanfoundation.org/ .