Travis Scott Announces Cactus Jack Foundation to Benefit Youth in Houston and Partnership with Parsons School of DesignLaunch day includes unprecedented national partnership with Parsons and the city of Houston across education and parks, and unveiling of HBCU's "Waymon Webster Scholarship" program |
Houston, Texas, November 18, 2020 -- Today, in honor of the 3rd annual city proclamation “Travis Scott Day” in the City of Houston, Travis Scott announces the launch of the Cactus Jack Foundation to inspire and provide educational and creative resources for the next generation of youth. The foundation's first call to action is the launch of The HBCU Waymon Webster Scholarship program which will cover tuition fees for HBCU students for this school year. The foundation launch includes a multi-year partnership with the City of Houston across Parks and Education with the unveiling of Cactus Jack Gardens, a community based agriculture program across city wide elementary schools and a multi level national partnership with The New School’s Parsons School of Design. The foundation’s first initiative is the launch of The Waymon Webster Scholarship which is named after Travis Scott’s grandfather who attended HBCU Prairie View A&M University in Texas. This fund will cover costs of college tuition for young adults who are facing financial difficulty and who are affected by the pandemic. Travis personally selected students who are currently enrolled in Morehouse College, Howard University, Texas Southern University, Grambling State University, his mother’s alma mater and Prairie View A&M University where his father attended.“Waymon Webster was a Dean of the Prairie View A&M graduate school. My grandfather wanted me to take it all the way through college, I feel there is a power in education so to be able to give someone the opportunity to fulfill that dream as my papa thought for me is amazing.” - Travis Scott CACTUS JACK FOUNDATION MISSION STATEMENT: The mission of the Cactus Jack Foundation is to empower and enrich the lives of youth by providing access to education and creative resources to ensure long term success. The foundation believes the youth should not be prevented from attaining their lifetime goal and is committed to extending educational opportunities to all, regardless of their circumstances to achieve their dreams.” The multi-year partnership with the City of Houston will support school and recreational programs including the unveiling of Cactus Jack Gardens, a community garden initiative across elementary schools where students will learn agricultural economics and nutritional skills.In 2018, Mayor Sylvester Turner declared the first ever ‘Travis Scott Day’ after the debut of his successful Astroworld Festival at NRG Park. During the proclamation ceremony, the mayor also recognized Scott as one of Houston’s ambassadors for art, education and youth initiatives. The following year in 2019, Mayor Sylvester Turner returned to honor Travis Scott with a key to the City of Houston during the “Astroworld - Wish You Were Here” sold out concert at the Toyota Center. “Investing in our youth is one of the most important things we can do for our city. Education and mentorship equip young people with the skills they need for a successful career path. I am grateful that Travis is partnering with the City of Houston to support our nationally-recognized My Brother’s Keeper program, which provides support for boys and young men of color. I also applaud him and his Cactus Jack Foundation for investing in the lives of young men and women by providing scholarships to cover their tuition at HBCUs. If we can turn around one person in one family, that positively impacts every neighborhood, which builds on the resilience and strength of our entire city.” - Mayor Sylvester TurnerAdditionally, his partnership with The New School’s Parsons School of Design will include an unprecedented authentic fashion design program created in partnership with the Cactus Jack Foundation. This new program will bring Parson’s world-renowned curriculum to Houston, providing design education to the city's youth in partnership with My Brother’s Keeper, Houston. The online certification program will be available to youth nationwide via special scholarships. “Parsons is proud to partner with Travis Scott's Cactus Jack Foundation to bring fashion education to high school students who have traditionally been underrepresented in creative disciplines,” said Rachel Schreiber, Executive Dean of The New School’s Parsons School of Design. “Parsons and Travis Scott share a deep commitment to educating young designers who are just beginning their exploration of fashion and design. We are excited to collaborate with the Cactus Jack Foundation to offer this immersive course led by Parsons award-winning faculty." The Waymon Webster Scholarship Recipient List Destiney Dallyn Bryant Nasire Taylor |
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Founded in 1919, The New School was established to advance academic freedom, tolerance, and experimentation. A century later, The New School remains at the forefront of innovation in higher education, inspiring more than 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students to challenge the status quo in design and the social sciences, liberal arts, management, the arts, and media. The university welcomes thousands of adult learners annually for continuing education courses and public programs that encourage open discourse and social engagement. Through our online learning portals, research institutes, and international partnerships, The New School maintains a global presence. Parsons School of Design at The New School is one of the leading institutions for art and design education in the world. Based in New York but active around the world, the school offers undergraduate and graduate programs in the full spectrum of art and design disciplines, as well as online courses, degree and certificate programs. Critical thinking and collaboration are at the heart of a Parsons education. Parsons graduates are leaders in their respective fields, with a shared commitment to creatively and critically addressing the complexities of life in the 21st century.
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Media Contacts: The New School |
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