WBM Legacy Scholarship
The WBM Legacy Scholarship was established by 4 The Love of 43, Inc. to honor the enduring legacy of Willie and Beatrice McGhee, whose lives exemplified faith, service, generosity, and a steadfast commitment to family and education.
Grounded in the organization's core pillars of Faith, Family, and Education, the scholarship supports graduating high school seniors pursuing higher education, technical training, or Registered Apprenticeship opportunities. The scholarship recognizes students who demonstrate academic achievement, leadership, perseverance, character, and a desire to make a positive impact in their communities.
More than a financial award, the WBM Legacy Scholarship is an investment in the next generation of leaders, changemakers, and lifelong learners. Through this program, 4 The Love of 43, Inc. seeks to continue a legacy of opportunity, encouragement, and service by helping students pursue their educational and career aspirations while inspiring them to lead lives of purpose and impact.
By supporting students as they take their next steps toward achieving their dreams, the WBM Legacy Scholarship ensures that the values and legacy of Willie and Beatrice McGhee continue to influence future generations for years to come.
Launched: 2026
Scholarship Focus: Graduating High School Seniors
Eligible Pathways: College, University, Technical Training, and Registered Apprenticeship Programs
Guiding Principles: Faith • Family • Education
Mission: Investing in the next generation while honoring the legacy of Willie and Beatrice McGhee.
Celebrating Our Inaugural 2026 WBM Legacy Scholars
In 2026, 4 The Love of 43, Inc. proudly awarded its first-ever WBM Legacy Scholarships, marking an important milestone in our commitment to investing in the next generation through the pillars of Faith, Family, and Education.
As the first recipients of a scholarship established in honor of Willie and Beatrice McGhee, they now carry forward a legacy of excellence, service, and lifelong learning. These scholars exemplified academic achievement, leadership, perseverance, character, and a dedication to pursuing their educational and career aspirations. And we are honored to support their educational journeys and look forward to witnessing the positive impact they will make in their communities and beyond.
Congratulations to our 2026 WBM Legacy Scholars, De’Ovani Smith and Camora Ward. Your accomplishments, determination, and future promise embody the spirit of this scholarship, and we are proud to stand beside you as you pursue your dreams.
Heart for the Holidays
Annual Toy & Coat Drive
Launched in 2023, the Heart for the Holidays initiative was created to bring joy, hope, and practical support to families during the holiday season. Rooted in our commitment to Faith, Family, and Education, the program was established to ensure that children and families could experience the warmth and spirit of the holidays regardless of their circumstances.
In its inaugural year, Heart for the Holidays provided toys and holiday gifts for 79 families, helping make the season brighter for children throughout the community. Building upon that success, the initiative expanded in 2024 and 2025, providing support for more than 100 families annually through the generosity of donors, volunteers, and community partners.
The annual recipient for this campaign is Community Life Center of Rockford, an organization that provides education, wellness, and recreational services to ages 5 to 55+.
What began as a toy drive evolved into a broader effort to address both holiday wishes and essential family needs. In addition to toys and gifts, Heart for the Holidays now provides winter coats, boots, household goods, and other essential items, helping families enter the holiday season with greater comfort, dignity, and support.
Through Heart for the Holidays, 4 The Love of 43, Inc. continues to honor its mission of strengthening communities, supporting families, and demonstrating the power of compassion in action. We are grateful to every volunteer, donor, and community partner who has helped make this initiative a growing source of hope and encouragement for families each year.
Together, we are sharing more than gifts—we are sharing love, hope, and the spirit of community.
2023: 79 families served
2024–2025: 100+ families served annually
Items Distributed: Toys, coats, boots, household goods, and holiday gifts
Every Day We Learn
Summer Learning Challenge 2028
Our Summer 2028 Every Day We Learn campaign will include a Learning Challenge entitled, “I Dream of Becoming.” Each student will choose a book and write an essay, giving a 2-minute speech regarding what they dream of becoming based upon a concept or career they discovered in their book. Winners will receive a $100 gift card and are grouped in the following age categories (one winner per category):
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5 - 6 years old
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7 - 8
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9 - 10
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11 - 13
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14 - 15
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16 - 18
More information to come...
Mentorship Matters
Explore Possibilities. Experience Careers. Build Your Future.
Mentorship Matters is an experiential career exploration and mentorship program designed to help students in grades 8–12 discover their strengths, explore career possibilities, build meaningful relationships with professionals, and better understand the pathways that can turn their interests into their futures.
Launching in Summer 2027, Mentorship Matters will take career exploration beyond the classroom by connecting young people directly with employers, professionals, mentors, educational partners, and apprenticeship and workforce organizations to learn about the many pathways available after high school.
Rather than simply telling students about careers, we want them to experience the environments where careers happen.
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Company and workplace tours
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Hands-on career activities
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Career-interest and strengths assessments
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Conversations with industry professionals
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Mentorship
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Career-readiness activities
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Financial literacy
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Exposure to college, career and technical education, apprenticeships, work-based learning, industry credentials, and direct-to-career pathways
Led by an experienced team and organizational leadership with decades of expertise in youth and young-adult development, career counseling, professional coaching, workforce development, apprenticeship, employer engagement, education, and community partnership development, Mentorship Matters brings together professional expertise and a deeply personal commitment to investing in the community.
Mentorship Matters — because sometimes seeing what is possible is the first step toward believing you can achieve it.