Educational foundation to honor eight men on Father’s Day, present the Zaevion Dobson scholarship

The Beta Theta Boulé Foundation of Knoxville will host an inaugural Father’s Day luncheon to celebrate the contributions of eight Knoxville area men and present the first Zaevion Dobson Scholarship to a local high school student.

The event will be held June 19 from 1:30-4 p.m. at The Foundry On The Fair Site, 747 World’s Fair Park Drive, in downtown Knoxville. Proceeds from the luncheon will help fund future scholarships for meritorious high school students in the Knoxville area.

Each of the eight honorees who will be recognized have demonstrated strong “fathering” skills and modeled leadership, commitment to educational achievement and civic responsibility.

“We believe these fathers and mentors strive to teach youth about equality, mutual respect for others and a devotion to democratic traditions,” Foundation President Harold Hicks said. “That’s why the foundation will recognize them, along with our first Zaevion Dobson Scholarship recipient, at our Father’s Day luncheon and community celebration.”

The honorees include:

• Daryl Arnold, pastor of Overcoming Believers Church
• Charles Crowe, director of the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Offices Procurement and Contracts Division
• Steve Diggs, president and CEO of the Emerald Youth Foundation
• Valentino Jefferson, quality engineer in Knoxville
• Todd Kelly Sr., businessman and former University of Tennessee Vol football player
• David Rausch, chief of the Knoxville Police Department
• Rick Staples, vice president of 100 Black Men of Greater Knoxville
• The late George Williams, longtime Alcoa public servant and co-founder of the Richard Williams Jr. Leadership Development Academy

Tickets are available by contacting Nathaniel Foster at 865-386-4867 or [email protected] by June 1. Admission to the luncheon is $50, and a portion of the donation is tax deductible. Additional scholarship donations to the foundation are welcome and can be mailed to the Beta Theta Boulé Foundation at P.O. Box 23034, Knoxville, TN, 37933.

The Beta Theta Boulé Foundation is a nonprofit organization affiliated with the African-American professional fraternity, Sigma Pi Phi Incorporated. The Knoxville Chapter, called Beta Theta Boulé, was organized 20 years ago and has a notable record of community service.