2026 SPECIAL SESSION I

ENROLLED

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2005

Commending the LEADE Foundation.

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, April 23, 2026

WHEREAS, the LEADE Foundation is an all-volunteer 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering leadership, education, advocacy, developments, and community engagement in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, originally established in 2014 as the Omicron Alpha Lambda Foundation, the foundation originated with the goal of raising funds to provide financial awards to deserving students in the Rappahannock region, encompassing the Caroline, Stafford, Spotsylvania, and Fredericksburg communities; and

WHEREAS, in 2021, the foundation broadened its outreach to include a focus on leadership, advocacy, professional development, and civic engagement, changing its name to the LEADE Foundation, which stands for Leadership, Education, Advocacy, Development, and Engagement; and

WHEREAS, the foundation has benefited the region through numerous community events, initiatives, and outreach projects, including the Black & Gold Gala Scholarship Fundraiser Event, which in May 2025 raised over $50,000 for scholarships, community service, and educational programs; and

WHEREAS, the LEADE Foundation has engaged local youth in Fredericksburg schools through the Martin Luther King, Jr., Art Contest, which encouraged students to express their understanding of freedom and its significance through art inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s, legacy and vision of equality and justice; and

WHEREAS, the foundation sponsors an HBCU Bus Tour to expose students to opportunities to pursue a bachelor's degree, master's degree, or doctorate in an environment that fosters, encourages, and expects Black excellence; and

WHEREAS, in 2026, the LEADE Foundation is offering the Walter P. Richardson Scholarship, the Emory T. Turner Scholarship, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Scholarship, the Dr. Phillip Y. Wyatt Scholarship, the HBCU Scholarship, the Dr. Geraldine T. Farmer Scholarship, the Chad L. Terry Memorial Scholarship, and the Dr. Myron Clanton Memorial Scholarship to high school seniors who have demonstrated academic excellence and made outstanding contributions to their schools and communities; and

WHEREAS, the LEADE Foundation's commitment to strong leadership, access to quality education, active advocacy, sustainable development, and community involvement has served to create positive change and empower individuals and communities; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That the LEADE Foundation hereby be commended for its commitment to leadership, education, advocacy, development, and engagement in the community; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the LEADE Foundation as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for the foundation's contributions to the Commonwealth.