SHOWING KIDS MORE
SO THEY WANT MORE
Giving Tuesday with the Blues Babe Foundation
Donate
The Blues Babe Foundation (BBF) believes in the power of community and giving! For 20 years, the Blues Babe Foundation has provided leadership development and academic programming for children, youth and young adults hailing from North Philadelphia with the expectation that it might continue to fuel their brilliance and open windows of opportunities. We also ensure that our young people have necessities such as winter coats, school supplies, and out-of-school time experiences via Camp Jill Scott. Likewise, the Blues Babe Foundation also provides career exposure and internships to help students develop career readiness skills. To date, we have collectively served more than 1500 children, youth and young adults.
It is with this in mind that we hope you will join us in our efforts by supporting the Blues Babe Foundation on this Giving Tuesday! Together, we can continue to show our young people the power of community by giving today!
Help us create futures
Being a good corporate citizen is good business. Because of the Foundation’s focus on pre-college and college-aged youth, a partnership with the Blues Babe Foundation connects your brand to the elusive youth market. Not only will your brand reach youth, but also their parents and guardians. Contact the Foundation and we’ll create a mutually beneficial partnership that will further your corporate goals and objectives.
Individual Support
Let’s make a difference together! Your financial support not only helps make dreams come true, but also inspires youth to dream. Contact the Foundation to set up your tax-deductible donation or join our mailing list and we’ll keep you updated on the Foundation’s activities. Also let us know if you’re interested in volunteering, and you can us assist us at events in the community.
Want information about the next scholarship openings?
who
we are
The brainchild of Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter and poet Jill Scott, the Blues Babe Foundation is led by a team of passionate professionals invested in the success of our youth. Since it’s inception, the foundation has benefited from strong community and corporate partnerships.
Meet Our Team
 | Jill Scott |
|---|---|
 | Brandon Pankey |
 | Valerie V. Gay |
 | Isaac Ewell |
 | Aisha Winfield |
what
we do
The Blues Babe Foundation is a North Philadelphia based launch pad for young brilliance. Our programs are rooted in cultivating academic and artistic success in youth coming from the most underserved communities of North Philadelphia and Camden.
What we do
The foundation has provided more than 50 scholarships ranging from $250 for book stipends to $10,000 for our writing scholarship in partnership with Hallmark’s Mahogany brand.
We also engage students in grades 4 – 12 through programs such as Camp Jill Scott and Clean Up Your Neighborhood. Each year through our “Clean Up Your Neighborhood” program, the foundation participates in clean up events to encourage community beautification.
As an integral part of the community, the Blues Babe Foundation is sensitive to the varying needs of our young people. We have offered our space, resources, and partnership to many initiatives:
- Sponsored a trip for college bound high school girls to the “At The Well: Teen Entrepreneurs Summit” held at Princeton University.
- Graduation or Education Media Project at Made in America.
- Hosted a workshop with Sakina Ibrahim, past Camp Jill Scott Director and author of “Big Words To Little Me”.
- Hosted College Bound Workshop Series and provided copies of books by Brian Peterson author of “High Learning” Lacey Clark, author of “Phenomenally U”.
- Venue and promotion of MSK Trunk Event for college freshman.
- Book drives for local elementary schools.
- Paper collection for local high schools
- Sponsor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service and Leadership Event.
- Hosted Community Clean Up on North Broad Street with Communities In Schools.
- Financial support for uniforms and travel expenses to Mister Mann Frisby’s track team.
The Blues Babe Foundation is a North Philadelphia based launch pad for young brilliance. Our programs are rooted in cultivating academic and artistic success in youth coming from the most underserved communities of North Philadelphia and Camden.
What we do
The foundation has provided more than 50 scholarships ranging from $250 for book stipends to $10,000 for our writing scholarship in partnership with Hallmark’s Mahogany brand.
We also engage students in grades 4 – 12 through programs such as Camp Jill Scott and Clean Up Your Neighborhood. Each year through our “Clean Up Your Neighborhood” program, the foundation participates in clean up events to encourage community beautification.
As an integral part of the community, the Blues Babe Foundation is sensitive to the varying needs of our young people. We have offered our space, resources, and partnership to many initiatives:
- Sponsored a trip for college bound high school girls to the “At The Well: Teen Entrepreneurs Summit” held at Princeton University.
- Graduation or Education Media Project at Made in America.
- Hosted a workshop with Sakina Ibrahim, past Camp Jill Scott Director and author of “Big Words To Little Me”.
- Hosted College Bound Workshop Series and provided copies of books by Brian Peterson author of “High Learning” Lacey Clark, author of “Phenomenally U”.
- Venue and promotion of MSK Trunk Event for college freshman.
- Book drives for local elementary schools.
- Paper collection for local high schools
- Sponsor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service and Leadership Event.
- Hosted Community Clean Up on North Broad Street with Communities In Schools.
- Financial support for uniforms and travel expenses to Mister Mann Frisby’s track team.
what
we do
why
we do it
Not one to distance herself from her humble beginnings in Philadelphia, Jill was inspired by events in her own life to ensure that other deserving young people would not find their education stalled due to lack of financial support.
Why We Do It
The Blues Babe Foundation offers an opportunity to see outside the corners of your block. We can push education but without the desire to want to do more, see more and experience more it’s not going to happen. Not everybody is dedicated to school. But when you give people a chance to go outside of their neighborhood for a week or summer, it gives them a chance to be around peace. There are no gunshots for nine hours, there are no drug dealers, there’s no arguments or crazy behavior. You get to meet educators, financiers, and dancers. People with all kinds of jobs get to show the kids something different.
I travel around the world and come back and go to North Philly to see how everybody is doing. To see what’s different, what’s open, what’s closed, you know, talk to my neighbors. I would watch the news and see so many people getting shot on a daily basis like it was nothing. It was frustrating to me. I thought, ‘if my mother hadn’t taken me to libraries, art museums, and dance recitals, I could end up in a lot of trouble and I wouldn’t be where I am today. I just want to offer my kids something. I’m going to take care of my hood and you take care of yours!
We offer scholarship & mentoring programs for students that show the aptitude and commitment to their education.
PROVIDE
encouragement & mentoring.
EMPOWER WITH
life skills & training.
CREATE FUTURES WITH
a vision for academic success.
Camp Jill Scott
Camp Jill Scott is a free day camp created to provide a fun outdoor experience for young scholars from North Philadelphia.
Camp Jill Scott
It is a free day camp created to provide North Philly scholars entering the 4th to the 7th grade with leadership skills, academic enrichment, fun outdoor experiences and exposure to new things.
Each year we partner with at least 3 community organizations and employee local high school and college students as camp staff.
Transportation is provided from North Philadelphia to the camp location (approximately 45 minutes outside of Philadelphia) and back each day. Our young scholars enjoy swimming, rock wall climbing, field games, scavenger hunts, writing workshops, leadership development, and arts-based conflict resolution training.
At our closing program certificates and backpacks filled with school supplies are distributed and students are reminded of their commitment to pursue academic excellence throughout the school year.
See pictures from our past camps!
Want information about Camp Jill Scott 2024? Join our mailing list!
Our Scholarships
The foundation’s scholarship program offers financial support and mentoring for students that have shown the aptitude and commitment to their education, but whose families may not have the resources to ensure completion of their undergraduate degrees.
Our Scholarships
Our past scholarship recipients:
- John Knight – Broken Arrow, OK
Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Ill. - Kathleen Stoughton – Bargersville, IN
Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, Ind. - Arnetta Johnson – Bargersville, IN
Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA
Want information about the next scholarship openings? Join our mailing list!
Featured Scholar
Savannah Manns
15 years-old
Fall 2016:
11th grade at Science Leadership Academy
Inspirations:
Someone who inspires me is my grandmom. She inspires me because she has over come so many obstacles in her life however she continued to push through all while taking care of her kids. She is always there when I need her and she gives amazing advice when you need it the most. She is one of the most intelligent people I know.
Aspirations:
After graduating from science leadership academy I hope to attend a university or college of my choice where I would major in pre medicine. I hope to one day become a pediatric neurologist or a pediatric psychologist.
Links:
Uniquely You Summit
We’d love to hear from you
Use the form below to send us your thoughts, comments and questions. We’ll get back to you shortly.