Travis Scott and his Cactus Jack Foundation hosted their fifth annual Winter Wonderland theme park and holiday drive in partnership with Webster family HBCU alma mater, Texas Southern University (TSU), and the Houston Food Bank providing 1,000 of their beloved Houston community with toys, bikes, sneakers, merch and food for the holiday season.
This event marks a milestone for the foundation, bringing its multi-year HBCU commitment, the Waymon Webster Scholarship Program, to the annual holiday drive effort for the first time. Honoring the Webster family HBCU legacy, to date the program has awarded over $1 million in scholarships to over 100 graduating seniors, empowering the next generation.
At the lively event hosted at TSU, the Cactus Jack Foundation alongside the Houston Food Bank, provided over 2,000 toys and bikes in addition to 1,000 bags of food to the community. On site at the event, 200 Nike Cactus Jack sneakers were given out while limited-edition Cactus Jack Nike, Fanatics, Houston Astros, and Space Village gear was distributed to local families at their branded stations. The event featured a Winter Wonderland-themed outdoor inflatable pop-up park for children, complete with a giant bounce house and a special visit from Santa Claus. Longtime partner Houston Astros had a station as well with sign-up stations for Scott’s TXRX Lab and Waymon Webster Program for “future scholars” to get more information about the program and how to apply for an HBCU scholarship.
The event attendees included Scott’s Webster family (all of which attended HBCUs), Chairman of Texas Southern University Brandon L. Simmons, City of Houston Controller Chris Hollins in addition to surprise appearances from Don Toliver and Serena Page, all of whom came together to support the foundation’s mission ahead of the holiday season.
ABOUT THE CACTUS JACK FOUNDATION:
The Cactus Jack Foundation’s mission is to empower and enrich the lives of youth by providing access to education and creative resources to ensure long-term success. The foundation believes the youth should not be prevented from attaining their lifetime goal and is committed to extending educational opportunities to all, regardless of their circumstances to achieve their dreams. Learn more HERE.
ABOUT HOUSTON FOOD BANK:
Houston Food Bank’s mission is to provide food for better lives. Last year they provided access to 104 million nutritious meals in 18 counties in southeast Texas through our 1,500 community partners which includes food pantries, soup kitchens, social service providers, and schools. We have a strong focus on healthy foods and fresh produce. In addition to distributing food, we provide services and connections to programs that address the root causes of hunger and are aimed at helping families achieve long-term stability, including nutrition education, job training, health management, and help with securing state-funded assistance. We are a resource for individuals and families in times of hardship. We are a solution to food waste, working with grocery stores and growers to rescue food before it reaches landfills. In collaboration with our community, we advocate for policy change and promote dialogue on ways to increase access to food and to improve the lives of those we serve. Houston Food Bank works alongside our partner food banks in Montgomery County, Galveston Country, and Brazos Valley. Houston Food Bank is a certified member of Feeding America, the nation’s food bank network, with a four-star rating from Charity Navigator.
ABOUT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY:
Texas Southern University possesses an impressive array of more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs and concentrations, a diverse faculty, 80-plus student organisations, and an extensive alumni network comprised of educators, entrepreneurs, public servants, lawyers, pilots, artists, and more, many of whom are change agents on the local, national and international stage. Nestled upon a sprawling 150-acre campus, Texas Southern University is one of the nation’s largest historically black universities. Our academic curriculum is organized into ten colleges and schools that continue to serve as cornerstones for developing the greatest potential in leaders from various socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds. Some of TSU’s well-known graduates include the late U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Jordan and U.S. Congressman George “Mickey” Leland, as well as television host and former NFL star Michael Strahan and rapper Megan Thee Stallion. Texas Southern University is heralded as a pioneer and has distinguished itself by producing a significant number of African American students who have obtained post-secondary and advanced degrees. The university’s enrollment has grown from 2,303 students to more than 8,400 undergraduate and graduate students from across the world. Although initially established to educate African Americans, Texas Southern University has become one of the most diverse institutions in Texas.
Photography: Matthew Casby
