Palas telethon secures over Ja$1 million for Jamaica’s needy students

On July 1, the Peace and Love Academic Scholarship went outside the box in raising funds to facilitate scholarships for struggling Jamaican students.

 Through the initiative of board member Millissa ‘Ladysong’ Hibbert in staging the first ever Telethon which turned out to be an overwhelming success, netting US$8,105.00 (JA$1,053,000.00).

 Commenting on the support of the event Ladysong said, “We didn’t know what to expect when we decided to do the first PALAS Telethon, but we are very happy with the amount that was raised. Because of the success, we will certainly do this again,” she said.

She also took time out to thank the stations which came on board as well as those who reached out to friends to make a donation.

 A grateful PALAS founder Ruel ‘Rula’ Brown while expressing gratitude and total joy at the support said he is happy at the heavy participation.

“We are proud and confident to say that with this result we will be able to award an additional 5-10 scholarships above and beyond the 100 goal which was set,” he said.

 The 2017 scholarship awards presentations will take place on Saturday, August 19 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston.

This year the organization also saw a record number of applications coming in, jumping to over 300 applicants.

“It breaks my heart, that over 200 meets the PALAS qualifications requirements, but the sad reality is that we just don’t have enough funds to aid them,” he said even as he makes the appeal for more donations to come in that more students can be accommodated.