PALAS telethon raises US$14,000 for Jamaica’s financially challenged students

Founder of the Peace and Love Academic Scholarship (PALAS) Ruel ‘Rula’ Brown is giving thanks for the tremendous outpouring of love the third annual PALAS telethon received on Saturday.

From 9 am to 9 pm eight internet radio stations engaged the public with information about the organization, success stories and the need to keep the initiative going, they were rewarded with pledges and commitment to support to the tune of US$14,000 an estimate equivalent of Ja$1.8 million.

The telethon the brainchild of Millissa Jayne – Former Palas Marketing Director member, she teamed with director Patrick Thorpe and Brown as well as all the disc jocks.

Commenting on the telethon Jayne she developed it in 2017 by bringing together multiple online radio networks.

“It was with the idea that by collaborating we could achieve far more than working in solo. I am delighted to know that the telethon has been successfully executed now for the third year,” she said.

Marketing Director Patrick Thorpe describe the 12 hour drive a success.

“We have been running this telethon for three years and today we hit our largest donation to date. That means a lot for the students who we are trying to assist with their academic goals,” he said adding that there is still a long way to for the target of US$60,000 to award at least 110 scholarships a combination of high school and tertiary institutions.

“We still have a little way to go to hit our goals, but we are more than pleased with the outpouring of love and suppose from our listeners today,” he said.

The PALAS programme was established in December 2010 after the brutal killing in Portmore, Jamaica of young reggae artist, Vanessa Campbell. An initial scholarship programme was created as the SSSJamz/Vanessa Campbell Academic Scholarship to assist high school students from her Alma mater, Bridgeport High School.

Since then it has grown and has been chalking up on success story after another.

Graduating out of the PALAS programme are teachers, nurses, doctors, lawyers and so many others some of whom are now giving back through the PALAS Alumni.