NASSAU, Bahamas -- Helen Astarita and her husband, Ben, came to The Bahamas quite by accident more than 50 years ago. But her extraordinary donation of $400,000 to The College of The Bahamas' School of Communication & Creative Arts to support budding artists in a thriving art programme is anything but happenstance.

The largest single gift to The College specifically directed toward funding the study of Art, this recent gift is deliberate; a tangible means of helping young, brilliant artists who want to fuel their passions while earning a higher education degree in Art.

The $400,000 gift will be used to establish the Astarita Art Endowment to fund two merit based scholarships - the Astarita Nassauvian Art Scholarship and the Astarita Family Islander Art Scholarship - in perpetuity for full time students entering The College and pursuing a degree in Art. The scholarships will be awarded every two years, with the first recipients being selected from among the Fall 2011 first year class. A dream come true for fortunate Art students, both awards cover tuition and expenses for art supplies, while the scholarship for the Family Islander also provides for housing allowance.

An imaginative and accomplished artist, Mrs. Astarita was for many years the creative genius behind Bahama Handprints, by both conceiving the alluring native designs and manipulating the machines to bring the fabric patterns to life.  She started the company in 1966 with partner Berta Sands. Now, Mrs. Astarita's gift to The College will further position exceptional, aspiring artists to earn a formal degree in higher education while breathing life into their own creations.

Click here to read more at Bahama Islands Info