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Former Gary track athletes and local donor provide backpacks and establish Roosevelt Chief Williams scholarship
Summary
A local donor and former track athletes donated school supplies and established a $2,000 scholarship for a Westside Leadership Academy graduate; the board accepted the gift unanimously.
A community donor, representing former Horace Mann track athletes and his business Redefine Fitness, presented a district-wide donation of school supplies and announced the creation of the Roosevelt Chief Williams Scholarship Fund at the board meeting.
Donor Eric Smoot told the board he had "adopted" Beveridge Elementary in past years and this year expanded support to all five elementary schools in the district, donating 150 backpacks filled with school supplies. The group also established the Roosevelt Chief Williams Scholarship Fund to award a $2,000 scholarship to a Westside Leadership Academy graduate; the first recipient named at the meeting was Kieron Maxey.
The board thanked the donor and moved to accept the donation; the motion carried by roll call 5–0. Board members expressed appreciation for the donor’s continued engagement with Gary students and noted the scholarship will be awarded annually.
Why it matters: The donation provides school supplies to elementary students and establishes a named scholarship that the board and community say will continue to honor a late educator’s legacy.
Next steps: The board accepted the donation; staff will coordinate scholarship disbursement and distribution of supplies at the schools.
