Dr. April Parker

Gospel music speeches bring financial music to students’ ears

Five high school seniors won college scholarship awards totaling $3,750 for their speeches about gospel music during the Heritage Music Foundation’s (HMF) 2017 Gospel Music Festival. Dr. Margaret Pleasant Douroux, CEO and founder of the foundation, hosts the contest each year during HMF’s month-long celebration of gospel music. Over the course of 13 years, HMF has awarded $37,500 to more than 50 students, thanks to donations from friends of Heritage who believe in helping young people and are passionate about education. The event precedes Heritage’s national annual conference set for June 21-24 in Los Angeles. At the gathering, the organization