The Piney Woods School, one of only four African-American college-preparatory boarding schools in the U.S.A., is hosting what organizers expect to become an annual "Give From Your Heart" fundraising concert for the 106-year old school located outside of Jackson, MS. The kickoff takes place Saturday, June 6, 2015 at The New Horizon Church International, 1750 Ellis Avenue, Jackson, MS 39204. General admission tickets are available at www.pineywoods.org or www.ticketmaster.com.
The Black Music Month concert line-up includes the legendary Williams Brothers, the Canton Spirituals and James Bolton of the Bolton Brothers quartet. Contemporary gospel will be presented by Bryan Andrew Wilson, Vashawn Mitchell, the soulful trio Zie'l and BET Sunday Best star Alexis Spight. The Piney Woods School Choir will open the program.
"We're very excited," says radio executive Jerry Smith, one of the event organizers. "So many artists have offered their support via either a PSA or donating time to perform at the concert." A public service announcement campaign featuring Jussie Smollett and James T. Alfred from FOX TV's drama series "Empire" and a variety of gospel artists ranging from Tasha Page Lockhart to
Israel Houghton is in force at radio stations nationwide.
The Piney Woods School isn't an ordinary institution. It's a boarding school that provides an oasis for students thirsty to escape their rough environment (Over 75% of them hail from lower income neighborhoods where peer pressure and failing school systems often discourage learning) to pursue higher education. The pupils hail from 22 states and overseas and they all receive partial scholarships from the school's endowment fund. With The Piney Woods School's rigorous educational, spiritual and vocational curriculums, students are surrounded by positive peer pressure and 99% of the graduating seniors are admitted to colleges and universities. The school has been chronicled on "60 Minutes" and U.S. News & World Report profiled it as one of the Top 10 boarding schools in the nation. It was founded by educator Laurence C. Jones who was the grandfather of Radio One/TV One founder Cathy L. Hughes.
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