The Star (Jamaica)

Voltz of Holt scholarshi­ps to assist college students

- SHEREITA GRIZZLE Staff Reporter

In April 2020, recording artiste Bamm Holt began his philanthro­pic journey by partnering with a popular radio station to assist disabled persons from his hometown of Spanish Town.

The entertaine­r then expanded his give-back initiative to help needy students with school supplies. This year, Bamm Holt has set up a scholarshi­p fund to assist music students at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts and the Alpha Music Institute.

“This is the first time we’re going to do a giveback of this magnitude. This will be totally different from that back-to-school assistance. We will still have those back-toschool giveaways we started last year, but expansion is what we’re eyeing right now,” he said. “I feel like people need help chasing their dreams and that includes big kids and young adults, too. They also need help going back to school, so I am going to be offering three students at Edna Manley a grant of $100,000 to put towards tuition or any other school needs.”

Bamm Holt, who is the grandson of the late singer John Holt, says the institutio­ns were chosen because of their connection to the music industry. The artiste says he is happy Jamaica has institutio­ns that aid in moulding the island’s musical talent, and says he will always extend a helping hand to a fellow musician.

“It’s not like Edna or Alpha is extra special to me but they’re like the main schools in Jamaica that offer a curriculum focused on music and mi just wah give dem a strength. I know there are a lot of persons at these institutio­ns who have great musical dreams, who are struggling to make ends meet. I am in music, I know how important this entertainm­ent world is, and I want to help strengthen the dreams of anyone pursuing this field,” he said.

Interested persons are being asked to contact the Voltz of Holt Foundation at Voltzofhol­tffound@gmail.com

for applicatio­n forms. Deadline for entry is August 20. The foundation will randomly select the recipients.

“The goal is to keep expanding and keep helping any way we can. I know granddad would have been extremely proud and I hope he’s looking down and smiling right now. He was someone who loved music but also helping out people in any way that he could and I am sure he would be happy to see his family doing these things,” he said.

 ?? CONTRIBUTE­D ?? Bamm Holt
CONTRIBUTE­D Bamm Holt

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