Tune In Bursary 2026: Investing in the Next Generation

For the Tune In Foundation, the Reverend John C. Holland Awards have always represented more than an evening of recognition. They represent legacy, opportunity, and what becomes possible when a community intentionally invests in its next generation.

In February 2026, our Board of Directors was proud to join Hamilton’s Black community at LiUNA Station for the 30th Anniversary Reverend John C. Holland Awards Gala, a milestone celebration honouring three decades of Black excellence, leadership, education, and community impact.

Hosted by the Hamilton Black History Council, the Reverend John C. Holland Awards have been a vital part of Hamilton’s Black community since 1996. Over the years, the Council has provided more than 400 scholarships and awards to Black youth, creating pathways to education while celebrating the accomplishments of those helping to shape our city.

Continuing a Legacy of Opportunity

The Tune In Foundation is proud to contribute to that legacy through the Tune In Foundation Bursary. Our bursary was created to support a deserving young person pursuing their education while demonstrating creativity, leadership, community involvement, and the potential to make a meaningful impact through the arts.

For us, investing in young people goes beyond recognizing talent. It means helping remove barriers, affirming their potential, and giving them tangible support as they take the next steps toward their goals.

That commitment closely reflects the mission we carry throughout all of our work at Tune In: creating access to opportunities that help young people and emerging creatives discover their purpose, strengthen their skills, and see a future in which their ideas and talents have value.

Celebrating Black Excellence Together

This year’s gala was particularly meaningful as the Reverend John C. Holland Awards celebrated 30 years of excellence under the theme Sankofa Pearls. Sankofa, an Akan concept from Ghana, speaks to returning to the past to retrieve the wisdom needed to move forward, a fitting reflection for an anniversary rooted in honouring legacy while investing in the future.

For our Board of Directors, being together in that room was also a reminder of the responsibility that comes with community leadership. Tune In Foundation exists because generations before us created opportunities, opened doors, mentored young people, and believed that investing in others could change the trajectory of a life.

Our responsibility is to continue doing the same.

Building the Future

Scholarships and bursaries may be presented in a single moment, but their impact can extend far beyond one evening.

They can help purchase books, offset tuition, support equipment and creative development, or simply remind a young person that their community sees something in them worth investing in.

As the Tune In Foundation continues to grow, we remain committed to creating those moments of access through mentorship, education, artist development, leadership programming, performance opportunities, and direct investment in young people.

We are grateful to the Hamilton Black History Council for continuing the legacy of Reverend John C. Holland and for creating a space where Hamilton can come together each year to celebrate our history, recognize Black excellence, and invest in Black futures.

Congratulations to our 2026 Tune In Foundation Bursary recipient, and to every student, leader and community member recognized during this historic 30th anniversary celebration.

The future is bright and we are proud to play a small part in helping the next generation step into it.