DAMIAN MARLEY Headlines Benefit Concert
October 17, 2011 – Multiple Grammy Award-winning Reggae Superstar Damian Marley has partnered with the Caribbean Education Foundation, Inc. (CEF) to headline its “STAND UP – Educate the Youths” BENEFIT CONCERT to help children in Jamaica attend high school.
The STAND UP Benefit Concert will be held on Thursday, November 17, 2011 at the beautiful outdoor music venue, Jannus Live in St. Petersburg, Florida. Proceeds from the concert will be donated to the Caribbean Education Foundation Jamaica Scholarship Programs. It is highly anticipated that STAND UP will be a spectacular event!
The theme of the concert is “leadership, pride, compassion and action” and how they intertwine to “educate the youth”. “STAND UP – Educate the Youths”, CEF’s 2011 Education Benefit Concert, features Damian Marley and music artists who exemplify the qualities of leadership, pride, compassion and take action to support education for poor youths. These global music leaders will lend their voices to the need for educational access in countries such as Jamaica.
When asked the reasons Caribbean Education Foundation chose international reggae superstar Damian Marley as its Partner and Headliner for STAND UP, CEF President & CEO, Nikiki T. Bogle, Esq. explains, “STAND UP exemplifies artists who are taking positive actions for a better world and Damian Marley is a natural fit with this tremendous effort. Damian Marley is not only a Spectacular Entertainer and Musical Genius, but he is also a Humanitarian who deeply cares about disadvantaged children and understands there is a critical need to provide them with meaningful access to education. Therefore, it was natural for us to request that Damian Marley partner with CEF and he immediately embraced our efforts and took action.”
Damian Marley has won Three Grammy Awards for Blockbuster Albums. In 2002, he won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album for “Half Way Tree”. In 2006, he won Two Grammy Awards for “Welcome to Jamrock” for Best Reggae Album and Best Urban/Alternative Performance. He is the only Jamaican reggae artist in history to win two Grammy Awards on the same night. He is also the only reggae artist to win in the Best Urban/Alternative Performance category at the Grammy Awards. Damian Marley is the son of King of Reggae, Bob Marley and Cindy Breakspeare, Miss World, 1976.
The Caribbean Education Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3), tax deductible nonprofit organization based in the United States. It is dedicated to helping brilliant, poor children receive meaningful access to quality education in the Caribbean. Its current mission country is Jamaica, where public education is NOT FREE starting in high school. CEF awards Scholarships which pays school fees, purchase text books, school supplies, uniforms, meals and transportation. CEF provided scholarships to needy students in Jamaica in 2011, 2010 and 2008. CEF has awarded over $2 million JA dollars (excess of U.S. $25,000) in student scholarships.
In discussing the importance of education in the developing world, CEO Nikiki Bogle reasons, “Our society must provide youth with meaningful access to quality education – – a necessary and important tool to change their own lives. After all, where would you or I be if our access to education ended at 12 years old? CEF’s goal is to take action, to ensure things will change to break the poverty cycle and give youth meaningful choices and opportunities in this world.”
It is the goal of Caribbean Education Foundation to help many more children, but this is challenging as the number of qualified students in financial need greatly exceeds the funding capabilities of the organization. STAND UP – Educate the Youths Benefit Concert will go a long way to help facilitate this goal.
Ms. Bogle added, “CEF is incredibly thankful and grateful to Damian Marley and his entire team for this partnership, and in particular, for donating one hundred percent of his performance for this important cause.”
The Foundation is asking everyone to STAND UP and support its fantastic benefit concert on November 17th, 2011 at Jannus Live in St. Petersburg, Florida. CEF is also urging corporations, organizations and individuals to help sponsor the STAND UP Benefit Concert, Adopt a CEF Scholar or Donate on its website.
