Holmes Legacy Fund to give out Up with People scholarships
By Carmen Duarte
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
Up with People - an international musical organization - announced the launch of the Bill Holmes Legacy Fund, a $250,000 campaign to support scholarships for the graduates of two Catholic high schools in Tucson.
The funds will assist graduates of San Miguel and St. Augustine high schools who wish to travel with Up with People, campaign organizers announced during a news conference Thursday at the Jewish Community Center .
'The Bill Holmes Legacy Fund is really an investment in the future of Tucson,' said Dale Penny, chief executive officer of Up with People.
'Our vision is that students from these two schools will return to Tucson after their time in Up with People and leverage their experience to impact the community, just as Bill Holmes did as a result of his time in Up with People,' said Penny in a news release.
In July, Holmes suffered a brain aneurysm and died. He was described by campaign organizers as a key leader in Tucson's business and philanthropic communities.
He grew up in 'very humble circumstances in Yuma' and spent three years on the staff of Up with People, said Dana Cooper, a campaign committee member.
Cooper said Holmes had said that the experience altered his life and sent him into a career of community leadership. He served on more than a dozen local nonprofit boards of directors, and San Miguel and St. Augustine high schools held a special place in Holmes' heart, said Cooper.
Up with People will return to Tucson in March for a week of community service and will perform two shows at the Fox Tucson Theatre with proceeds benefiting the legacy fund, said Cooper. The shows are March 17 and 18.
The musical group's appearance is being presented by Doug and Claudia Zanes, of Zanes Law. 'We were blessed to be among the many, many people in Tucson who were friends of Bill Holmes,' said Doug Zanes in the release.
'We are proud and honored to help launch this effort to continue Bill's incredible legacy by enriching the lives of Tucson youth,' said Zanes.
Contact reporter Carmen Duarte at cduarte@tucson.com or 573-4104. On Twitter: @cduartestar
Bill Holmes
