JLD SCHOLARSHIP FUND

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  • JLD Scholarship Fund

    Investing in the future leaders of tomorrow.

    The JLD Scholarship Fund was established in 2010 with a mission to honor the legacy of Johnny Leroy "Lee-Lee" Dawkins, Jr. by providing scholarship awards to young men of color upon graduating high school for the purpose of pursuing a higher education while joining the fight against gun violence.


    We have been honored to consistently award scholarships annually as a result of the support from our community.


    Scholarship awards are $1,500. Our goal is to award $6,000 annually.


    Recipients of the JLD Scholarship Fund have made valuable contributions to their families and the community becoming husbands, fathers, teachers, city officials, real estate agents, production company owners and more!


    See our story here.


    Applications will open March 3 - April 25, 2025


    Applications will be open to young men of color graduating from Lexington Sr. High School. Click the link below to learn more.

    Learn More

    Scholarship Award Statistics

    This section highlights our increasing scholarship awards, recipient demographics, and our first-generation college student poll details.

    Scholarship Awards Growth

    Scholarships awarded has grown by $1500 each year since 2022.

    Scholarship Recipients

    Scholarship Recipient Demographics

    • 87% of awards granted to Black/African American young men.
    • 13% of awards granted to Hispanic/Latino young men.

    We are dedicated to expanding our reach.

    First-Generation College Students

    Based on a recent poll of our 2024 scholarship applicants, 3 out of the 5 reported being first-generation college students.

    Testimonial

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    [What] this scholarship means to me is that it is easier and i have less worries about paying for college. As a first generation black male, it’s an honor to not only accept this but also very thankful for it as well.


    Michael Holmes

    2024 Scholarship Recipient

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