D’Angel rallies stars for back-to-school treat

Dancehall artiste D’Angel refused to let a money crunch derail the annual back-to-school treat that hundreds of Jamaican children have come to expect.

With sponsorship harder to secure this year, the entertainer — determined not to disappoint the youngsters counting on her — has turned to her fellow performers for help.

The result is the Angel’s Foundation Back to School Benefit Concert, set for August 16 at the Spanish Town Prison Oval, featuring live performances from Marco Dean, Future Fambo, Queen Ifrica, Nesbeth, Jodian Pantry, Tanto Blacks, Quada, Sheenwrks and Gangoolie.

For D’Angel, the concert is less about putting on a show and more about keeping a promise.

“It has always been a struggle for me every year to host the treat,” she said, explaining that she often has to reach into her own pocket to keep the event going.

“All the time I have to be dipping into my pocket,” she added, noting that her finances are not always able to carry the load.

And this year proved even tougher.

D’Angel said many of the people who normally help with her charitable efforts have been stretched thin assisting victims of Hurricane Melissa.

“The same circle of persons that I have always reached out to has been helping the hurricane victims,” she said.

Rather than call it quits, however, D’Angel decided to change the game.

She reached out to some of her fellow entertainers and asked them to come together for a benefit concert — a move she said was met with an encouraging response.

“I was very happy when I called the artistes and they decided to come on board,” she said.

The benefit concert will help raise funds for the back-to-school treat, which will be held one week later, on August 22.

And there is plenty riding on it.

D’Angel said approximately 500 children are already waiting for the annual event, making cancellation a difficult option.

“I almost never do the event this year as there is no money to do it,” she admitted. But, with the children in mind, she said she had to “brainstorm” and seek a solution. That solution became the benefit concert.

D’Angel, whose given name is Michelle Downer, is no stranger to giving back. For years, she has hosted charitable initiatives, including an annual December giveback. For the entertainer, the reward goes far beyond seeing a successful event. She described the feeling she gets from helping others as an “unexplainable joy”.

“I am just asking people to come and support a worthy cause,” she said, urging Jamaicans to contribute to the initiative.

According to D’Angel, the proceeds will support children across Jamaica’s 14 parishes while also providing assistance to victims of Hurricane Melissa.

“I feel very fulfilled every time I help someone,” she said. “It is the best feeling ever.”

“All when mi hungry, mi belly full and mi nuh eat until it finish,” she said. “It is an unexplainable joy to just give back and be a humanitarian.”