Rapper Travis Scott has honored his late grandfather by launching a new scholarship fund in his name via his newly-established non-profit.
The Sicko Mode hitmaker has unveiled the Cactus Jack Foundation, providing educational and creative resources to young people in his native Houston, Texas, and he is kickstarting the community charity work with the Waymon Webster Scholarship.
Travis, who shares daughter Stormi with Kylie Jenner, aims to cover tuition fees for students struggling financially during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the fund made available to those attending historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) – of which his granddad was a graduate.
“Waymon Webster was a dean of the Prairie View A&M graduate school,” Travis shares in a statement.
“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.”
According to Variety, the hip-hop star is also working with officials in the City of Houston to open the Cactus Jack Gardens, a community-based agriculture program for kids in local elementary schools, while he has entered a partnership with educators at The New School’s Parsons School of Design in New York and My Brother’s Keeper to enable Houston-based students the opportunity to obtain an online certification in its fashion course.
The news of the foundation was announced to coincide with Houston’s third annual Travis Scott Day on Wednesday (November 18, 2020).
Praising Travis for his continued efforts to give back to his hometown, Mayor Sylvester Turner said, “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 programme, 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.”
