Love train rolls on: Stark County students benefitting from the O'Jays scholarships

CANTON – The O'Jays have given their hometown more than the gift of music.

For the past 16 years, the legendary musical group has helped foster higher education for dozens of Stark County students through the O'Jays Scholarship Fund.

To date, $145,693 has been distributed to 59 students through the fund, which was started in 2006 and is administered through the Stark Community Foundation.

More: O'Jays and 'Love Train' farewell tour making Canton stop with Gladys Knight in September

2022 O'Jays Scholarship winners

The O'Jays are headlining a farewell tour concert on Sept. 17 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton. Special guest is Gladys Knight.
The O'Jays are headlining a farewell tour concert on Sept. 17 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton. Special guest is Gladys Knight.

This year's recipients have received scholarships of $2,143 each. They are McKenzie Mack, Amir Stokes, Julian Hanlin and Phoenix N. Lee.

Lee, a former McKinley High School varsity gymnast, is a junior at Ohio State University majoring in health sciences.

"I hope to become a physical therapist one day so I can help people in underserved communities," she said.

Stephanie Rushin Patrick, chairperson of the scholarship fund, said part of the applicants criteria is writing an essay about the O'Jays and their influence and  contributions.

"That's one of the things that is very important," she said. "Some of these kids are so young, we had them write essays."

The committee members are Pat Williams, Cynthia Hopkins, Chris Stone and Sandy Womack Jr.

Womack, a former Canton City School administrator who now works in Columbus, said the scholarships, which are aimed at helping working-class and non-traditional students, is a testament to the O'Jays enduring commitment to their hometown.

He cited the group's celebrity golf tournament at Clearview Golf Club in Osnaburg Township, banquets, and benefit concerts to raise funds for the scholarships.

"They've brought a lot of attention to the city," he said. "They haven't lived in Canton in years. It's significant and impressive... those gentleman have done the work."

Womack agrees with Patrick that the students' essays are an important part of the application process.

"Their stories are more compelling that their GPAs," he said.

A display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland tells of how The O'Jays began as singers in Canton. The group gained popularity nationally in the 1970s, and was inducted into the rock hall in 2005.
A display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland tells of how The O'Jays began as singers in Canton. The group gained popularity nationally in the 1970s, and was inducted into the rock hall in 2005.

How the O'Jays Scholarship Fund got started

Former Pro Football Hall of Fame President Stephen V. Perry was serving as head of the U.S. General Services Administration under President George W. Bush when he was contacted by O'Jays members Eddie Levert and Walter Williams.

"They were working with (then- city Councilman) Thomas West, who wanted to rename (Mahoning Road NE) 'The O'Jay's Parkway,'" Perry recalled. "They didn't know that much about him, and asked if I could get involved, and we worked on how to do it. In the course of our discussions, they came up with the idea for a homecoming concert. Eddie and Walt suggested the scholarship."

Perry advised them to operate the scholarship fund through the Stark Community Foundation.

"Eddie liked that idea," Perry said. "Eddie also insisted on kids who may not be straight-A students, but who may have struggled to good grades and have good character. I know the screening committee has done a good job with that, while not screening out the straight-A students."

Perry grew up in the same NE Canton neighborhood as the O'Jays original five members: Levert, Williams, William Powell, Bobby Massey and Bill Isles.

"We played football together in Cook Park," he said.

Perry said he watched the group practice at Powell's mother's house on Berger Place NE. Perry lived on Ninth Street NE.

"I was friends with Andrew Levert, Eddie's younger brother, who has passed. We had a singing group, but we never got anywhere," he said with a laughing.

This year marks Phoenix Lee's second O'Jay's scholarship.

"I look forward to applying every year," she said. "I pay for my school expenses out-of-pocket, so it's been a great blessing."

To learn more call the foundation at 330-454-3426, or visit https://www.starkcf.org/for-grantees/for-students/overview

Reach Charita at 330-580-8313 or charita.goshay@cantonrep.com

On Twitter: @cgoshayREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: The O'Jays Scholarship Fund has helped many Stark County students