Feature Story & Photos By: Larry H. Oskin
Be Like Ike Foundation recently launched its newest initiatives at the Splash Park at Waterfront Park in Clermont. The South Lake Chamber of Commerce Team helped the foundation celebrate the kick-off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by family, friends, students, coaches, supporters and local dignitaries.
Amanda Wilson, the founder of the Be Like Ike Foundation shared that the Foundation was established in honor of her late husband Isiah ‘Ike’ Wilson IV. “This ribbon cutting served as our official community launch, while we have already partnered with donors and the Central Florida community to begin the first steps to fulfill our long-term mission. My husband was an athletic coach in a variety of sports and a respected educator who unfortunately passed from cancer. Our Foundation’s mission was inspired by the life and legacy of my late husband. The multi-faceted focus of our foundation is to support students, coaches and educators through education. We are committed to the health, wellness, financial and educational success of coaches, educators and student-athletes by promoting overall wellness, while preventing and finding cures for illnesses which includes funding to fight long term-illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease and many other illnesses that impact our community. We will award annual scholarships for advanced education for more engagement in sports and wellness activities. We are fully committed to support families with cancer-related programs starting with the Hope Lodge. There will be more programs and opportunities to come, as I am positive, we will continue to help impact our Central Florida community.”
At this Clermont Kickoff event, the Be Like Ike Foundation was ready to award their very first college scholarship to a graduating high school senior and an educator coach scholarship award. An open call was announced earlier this year for applicants to apply for their first Be Like Ike Scholarships. Each applicant submitted essays with background information, noting their community service activities as well as their personal principles and goals. With their Board of Directors and Advisory Council, all applicants were reviewed to determine who not only personified Ike’s quality and standards for life to selflessly help others achieve success, yet also their future plans and goals.
Johnny Simmons of Apopka was awarded their first student scholarship, with his plans to start at Morehouse College this coming fall.
Dennis Thomas was presented with the first Be Like Ike Coach & Educator Scholarship Award. In turn, he generously plans to donate it all to the Horizon High School football program where he is a teacher and coach, so he can help others achieve their dreams.
The Foundation’s goal is to start awarding five scholarships per year.
Wilson notes, “The theme of our opening event was ‘High 5 for 5’. My husband was a number 5. We asked attendees to bring 5 items of toiletries and personal essentials which will be donated to help the families at the Hope Lodge. The Hope Lodge is a home away from home for cancer patients and their families’ receiving treatments at the Moffit Cancer Center where my husband was being treated. We were an out-of-town family that needed the support of the Hope Lodge. We have recently received their wish list. Our Be Like Ike Foundation will be collecting and taking donated items to the Hope Lodge with personally written ‘Hope Cards’ for the families, following this event.
Ike Wilson was a respected football coach, school teacher, father, husband and a member of the Iota Phi Theta fraternity, until cancer took his life too early at age 40. He primarily taught social studies, history and economics at local Central Florida schools through his career including Lake Minneola, Celebration and Horizon West High Schools. Amanda Wilson is a registered mental health counselor and a registered therapist, who works for the Florida Department of Children and Families.
For More Information, contact Amanda Wilson and the Be Like Ike Foundation at 407-504-2798. Email: info@belikeikefoundation.org. Visit their website at: http://BeLikeIkeFoundation.org/ to learn more and join their mailing list. Like and follow them on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/BeLikeIkeFoundation. Donations and volunteers are always welcome!
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