The Supernova Ska Festival in support of music training for at risk youth at the Alpha Institute in Kingston, Jamaica has already raised more than its goal of US$6,500 on its GoFundMe (click here)! Last Saturday June 13th, 75 bands from 20 countries, thousands of ska fans who tuned in to watch their performances plus 1 amazing emcee and a crack production team created a truly festive atmosphere that raised a total of US$12,000 to benefit students at the vocational school where ska got its start (and celebrates 140 years of service this year!). You have all helped Supernova realize its goal of inspiring people to appreciate ska’s past and be a part of its future. We thank you!
The Alpha Supernova GoFundMe goal of US$6,500 underwrites a full scholarship (US$5,500) for a returning Alpha music student and instruments for the music department (US$1,000). The student scholarship includes vocational and academic training, nutrition and transportation assistance for the year, one-on-one counseling and work experience. With the funds raised above and beyond the $6,500 goal, Supernova plans to bring Alpha to the 2021 Supernova Ska Festival! The GoFundMe is still open and accepting donations. More details will be announced soon.
The success of the fundraising campaign is due in great part to the contributions of author Heather Augustyn and Jump Up Records’ Chuck Wren who got things moving early on with special gifts for donors including Augustyn’s book about Alpha and a new Skatalites release. This week Jump Records is adding special test pressings and a Skatalites re-release so if you missed the opportunity to donate this past weekend there are more great reasons to participate now! https://www.gofundme.com/f/alpha-supernova
The Alpha Institute is a non-profit vocational school for young men 16-21 years old operated by the Religious Sisters of Mercy in Jamaica since 1890. All students attend on scholarship and do not have the skills, resources or means to support themselves or their families when they enter. The holistic two and three-year skills training in barbering, landscaping, woodwork or music complemented by math and english instruction help Alpha graduates become not just skilled tradesmen, but productive citizens. Alpha’s music programme, founded in 1892, has launched the careers of Jamaica’s most accomplished musicians including ska pioneers Don Drummond, Tommy McCook, Rico Rodriguez, Lester Sterling and Johnny Dizzy Moore, to name a few.
