BMI Foundation Establishes L3 Songwriting Scholarship Fund

BMI Foundation's David F. Bills and Deirdre Chadwick accept the founding donation for the L3 Songwriting Scholarship Fund from Porfirio Piña.

Photo by: Manny Zoom

Porfirio Piña, BMI Foundation Senior Vice President and the BMI Foundation (BMIF) have announced the establishment of the L3 Songwriting Scholarship Fund, to benefit aspiring songwriters and composers of Latin music nationwide. Piña, also the founder of Porfirio Piña Entertainment, has personally endowed the scholarship with an initial gift of $5,000. Piña presented the check to BMIF President Deirdre Chadwick and Executive Vice President David F. Bills at El Movimiento Live, a Latin music showcase held on October 15, 2015 at Stage 48 in New York City. The evening featured exclusive performances by singer-songwriters J’Martin, DavidL, Mickey & Joell 24 Horas, and Francheska.

“The L3 Songwriting Scholarship Fund is a testament to Porfirio’s philanthropic spirit, and demonstrates his personal and professional investment in the future of Latin music,” said Chadwick. “The BMI Foundation gratefully accepts his generous donation and looks forward to the creative and professional success of our winners.”

Named in honor of Dominican musicians Luis Felipe Alberti, Luis Kalaff, and Luis Días, the L3 Songwriting Scholarship will provide tuition assistance to young creators of Tropical music, exclusively in the genres of bachata, merengue, salsa, and cumbia. Piña’s contribution will be applied toward the program’s funding goal of $50,000 over the next five years. The inaugural scholarship will be awarded in 2020. Donations to the L3 Songwriting Scholarship Fund may be made at on our website at: bmifoundation.org/donate.