Help Build Educated Men, Stronger Families and Better Communities

Join us for an elegant evening of dinner, dancing, philanthropy and fun as we celebrate the accomplishments of our college graduates, our scholars, and our parents.

The Ezekiel Taylor Foundation

The Ezekiel Taylor Foundation is a 501(c)3 that provides mentorship, job readiness, life-skill programming, and college financial assistance to African-American males in the Chicago area who attend, or seek to attend, an accredited college, university or trade school. Named after the late Ezekiel Taylor, who was innocently killed on the South Side of Chicago, the foundation identifies young Black men who have been impacted by Chicago’s senseless gun violence. ETSF provides hope and opportunity and we educate, empower and encourage young men.

2024 Scholars

This year’s Scholars include graduating high school seniors, continuing college students and graduating college seniors! Join us in congratulating all of our scholars and their families for operating in excellence.

Andre Bass
Morehouse College

Aquil Hayes
Florida A&M University

Arun Nickerson
University of Southern California

Ayipey Salinas
Illinois Valley Community

Ayodele Kadirfu Thomas
Morehouse College

Ayomide Ajayi
University of Southern California

Bryce Dancy
North Carolina A&T

Caleb Hardaway
Columbia College

Charles Dunlap II
Howard University

David Allen
North Carolina A&T

Edward Washington, III
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Gabriel Blankenship
Louisiana State University

Hunter Holly
Howard University

Ian Jones
Morehouse College

Jaylin Holmes
Howard University

Jayson Evans
SIU Edwardsville

Joshua Spicer
North Carolina A&T

Julian Cole
Howard University

Malique Kas'Reil Amos
University of Southern California

Mitchell Bender
Illinois State University

Nathanael James
North Carolina A&T

Timothy James
Alabama A&M

Why We Need You

The goal of the gala and silent auction is to raise $100,000 for scholarships to outstanding need-based and merit based young men in Chicago. Donations of all sizes strengthen the Ezekiel Taylor Scholarship Foundation experience for both current and future students.

When you give to the Ezekiel Taylor Scholarship Foundation, you support a multitude of programs, services and enrichment opportunities that help to open the door to academic success for these recipients.

Featured Guests and Speakers

Honorary Co-Chair

Dr. Shawn Smith

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine

A member of the Division of Hospital Based Medicine at Northwestern Medicine and Lurie Children’s Hospital since 2006.

Honorary Co-Chair

Dr. Derek Robinson

Divisional Sr. VP & Chief Medical Officer
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois

Board-certified physician in Emergency Medicine and author of the new book Improbable MD: From the Bayou to the Board Room.

Keynote Speaker

Pastor Stephen Thurston III

New Covenant MB Church

A native of Chicago, Stephen has spent the last two decades has empowering and equipping individuals to reach their full potential by leading them to change what’s within in order to change what’s around.

Silent Auction

We are able to award these young men college scholarships each year because of your generous support. We host an annual silent and live auction. Join us every July to shop with a purpose.

Shop Silent Auction