Jay-Z’s company has set its sights on a new equitable initiative. Roc Nation’s most recent campaign is looking to improve education for the youth of Philadelphia. As announced on June 7, Roc Nation’s new initiative will help to distribute nearly $300 million in scholarships to students in need in the Philadelphia area.
The scholarship funding will focus on supporting underprivileged kids from Kindergarten to Grade 12. Billboard reports that the new program also offers the opportunity to help children afford to attend prestigious private schools and have access to several different educational institutions across Philly.
The scholarship amount awarded to students will depend on their education level and age group. Half-day kindergarteners will receive $2,500, K-8th graders will get $5,000, and high schoolers can secure $10,000. Special needs children of any age are eligible to collect $15,000 in scholarship funding.
Several stipulations apply to the scholarship awardees. For a student to be eligible to receive a scholarship at all, their family can’t make more than 250% of the total designated federal poverty threshold. For a family of four, that income is currently $75,000.
According to Billboard, Roc Nation will use a series of events from June 10 to June 21 to spread awareness for the new program. These events will take place across Philadelphia and include informational sessions about the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success, also known as PASS.
Roc Nation Managing Director of Philanthropy, Dania Diaz, said in a statement, “We have enjoyed such a special connection with Philadelphians, so we’ve made it our mission to invest in the long-term success of the city’s changemakers.”
Diaz continued, “Impact starts with the students and with awareness. We want to empower the youth and families with the knowledge to pursue their scholastic dreams, make their voices heard, and become the leaders of tomorrow.”
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