Tag Archives: The Great Khalid Foundation

Tuesday morning, El Paso’s own global superstar Khalid formally announced that on September 1st he will headline a benefit concert along with special guests at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso.

The concert is in support of Khalid’s hometown and in response to the tragic mass shooting on August 3.

“I have been rocked to the core by the horrific act of gun violence that came to El Paso, and by the continued acts of senseless violence that our country faces daily,” Khalid shares. “I want to give back to my community of El Paso, the city of the 915, who has given so much to me. Please come out and let’s heal together through music while raising money to help those who need it.

Khalid will be raising funds through this concert to support the El Paso Shooting Victims’ Fund and the El Paso Community Foundation.

Dr. Heather Wilson, The University of Texas at El Paso Incoming President adds, “Khalid’s generous offer to put on a benefit concert is a touching example of the spirit of caring and kindness that typifies El Paso.  We will come together to help and to heal.  I invite you to join us at the concert to honor and support the victims and their families.”

In addition to attending the concert, donations for this cause can only be made directly through www.thegreatkhalidfoundation.org or by purchasing one of the commemorative shirts.

Tickets for the concert will go on sale Wednesday, August 14th at 10am local time at LiveNation.com. This event is presented by The Great Khalid Foundation and manager Courtney Stewart’s Right Hand Foundation, and produced by Live Nation.

Earlier this week, sixth-graders at Jane A. Hambric School were treated to a new backpack and school supplies from The Great Khalid Foundation at a special presentation at the school.

Hambric was one of three schools selected throughout the city by the foundation for the back-to-school giveaway, which generously helped some 100 students at the campus.

The sentiment of thankfulness rang throughout the gym at Hambric where the backpacks were distributed. Students waited eagerly in line to receive their backpacks filled with supplies and many held large colorful signs thanking The Great Khalid Foundation.

“It makes me feel proud, it makes me feel happy,” said Linda Wolfe, executive director of The Great Khalid Foundation and Khalid’s mother, upon accepting the many signs gifted to her. “It makes me feel like everything that we are doing is worth it.”

The Great Khalid Foundation is a non-profit founded to give back to the families in the city of El Paso. The foundation works to alleviate some of the financial burden for parents and provide students with opportunities to succeed.

“(The backpacks) are expensive, and we know that it’s a need,” Wolfe said. “We didn’t want parents to incur costs.”

The students were more than grateful and excited to receive the backpacks from the foundation created by the singer Khalid, who is an SISD alumnus and Americas High School graduate.

Student Giselle Aguirre had a message for her generous donor that was unanimous with that of her peers, “Thank you Khalid and we all love you.”

Hambric principal Joanne Anguiano said the school wrote an essay to The Great Khalid Foundation about the school’s demographics, students’ needs, academics, and the way they support their students’ education to be considered for the backpack giveaway.

“One of the very important things that The Great Khalid Foundation did was help a lot of our students who come from a low economic status and a lot of what’s on their mind is that they don’t have materials ready,” Anguiano said.

“We want to take that off their mind so they can just focus on their academics, to be ready and prepared to hit the ground running. We want to get them prepared for life.”

This year, the foundation joined KISS FM’s Mike and Tricia’s Stuff the Bus School Supply Drive. Wolfe said they decided on the partnership based on the radio team’s continued dedication to the community of El Paso over the last 23 years.

The backpacks and school supplies given to the Hambric students were donated by Walmart. Other supporters of this year’s Stuff the School Bus Drive were First Light Federal Credit Union, El Paso Electric and Western Tech.

Ramon Mendoza, a sixth-grader at Hambric, was thrilled to receive his Marvel-themed backpack.

“I want to be a singer like Khalid,” Mendoza said.

To view more Backpack giveway from The Great Khalid Foundation event photos, click here

Three Socorro Independent School District seniors were recently surprised with a $10,000 scholarship from The Great Khalid Foundation.

The foundation is the SISD alumnus’ non-profit organization created to give back to the families in the El Paso community.

Steven Phan from Montwood High School, Celeste Barron from El Dorado, and Halie Chavira from Eastlake were the first recipients of the foundation’s Performing Arts Scholarships.

The students were presented the awards by Linda Wolfe, the foundation’s executive director and Khalid’s mother.

“We are excited that our first initiative as a formal organization is providing educational support for talented students in our community that dream of sharing their gifts with the world,” Wolfe said. “Our goal is to alleviate some of the financial burden on students and their families so they can go out and do great things with their creative gifts. It’s an honor to be a part of their journey as artists.”

The three surprise announcements were made at school assemblies in the presence of family and friends. The winners graciously accepted the awards and thanked the foundation, parents, and teachers for their support.

“My parents always told me, ‘if you want something, do it,’ and I really wanted this,” Chavira said. “I was not a good guitar player in the beginning but I practiced a lot. I play my guitar before school, during lunch, and after I do my homework. I’m always trying to learn new songs, chords and strum patterns to improve myself.”

Winning the scholarship was the first of two surprises. The aspiring artists also received a personal shout-out video from Khalid himself.

“I started crying when I saw the video,” Barron said. “I am really appreciative of them because this was such an amazing thing to do … tohelp the arts and support young musicians by helping us pay for college so we can fulfill our dreams.”

The Great Khalid Foundation’s Performing Arts Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship awarded to high school seniors pursuing higher education in a performing arts program, according to the foundation’s press release.

Applicants submitted transcripts to show their academic achievements, wrote essays explaining what they hope to become, and a performance video showcasing their artistic talents.

“I submitted a piece by Pyotr Tchaikovsky that had a sentimental approach,” Phan said. “The composer found refuge in the music, and that really spoke to me. My goal is to take my music for people in dark corners who need light and need hope.”

Phan was the first student surprised with the award. The French horn player plans to study music at the University of North Texas in Denton.

Barron, a viola player, will study music education at the University of Texas at El Paso and play in the UTEP Symphony Orchestra. Chavira will attend McMurry University and hopes to join the music production industry and compose her own music.