In memory of Desmond Jackson, whose life was tragically cut short on February 12, 2012, in an act of senseless gun violence, the Williams family launched the Desmond Jackson Foundation to provide opportunities for worthy African American young men to attend college.

To date, we have provided more than 50 scholarships for these bright students to attend Seattle Central College. This year, the Foundation also awarded our first scholarships to students from Garfield High School, empowering six African American students to attend Seattle University, the University of Washington, and other colleges...