Gala Raises Funds for Community Service Scholarship

NEW ORLEANS – Church and community members from South Louisiana joined Adventist Community Services for a black-tie event to raise funds for the inaugural Steve Turner Williams Memorial Scholarship. Guests gathered on Sunday, July 20, 2025, at the Toast Event Center for the gala, themed “Honoring the Past and Shaping the Future.” Featuring music from virtuoso Hezekiah Brinson; heartfelt tributes from the New Orleans Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and the Williams family; and a presentation about Adventist Community Service, the gala raised $5,000 for scholarships.

The scholarship fund was named to honor the legacy of New Orleans community and church leader Steve Williams. Throughout his personal and professional life, Williams was dedicated to serving the community. He was an extraordinary educator, a compassionate mentor of youth and a life-long Adventist Community Services volunteer. His enduring legacy of service lives through this scholarship, which supports the next generation of community-minded individuals.

“This is a bittersweet occasion,” said Irene Williams, mother of Steve Williams and community services leader at Westbank United Seventh-day Adventist Church. “The people in this room are here because they loved Steve, and they want his passion for serving others to live on with the next generation.” 

Benjamin François, gala planning committee member, remembered Williams with fondness. “Steve believed he could make a difference, and he did,” François said. “He cared about this community. Every city leader knew Steve because he had a big personality and a genuine heart.”

Scholarships will be awarded in the spring semester of 2026 in the amount of $500 or more to college sophomores, juniors and seniors from the Southwest Region Conference who have consistently demonstrated a history of community service. Students can apply for the scholarship at the conference website, SouthwestRegionSDA.org. 

“There are [other] academic scholarships for students who excel in school and sports scholarships for the most talented athletes,” said Darriel Hoy, Southwest Region Conference Adventist Community Services director. “The goal of the Steve Williams Memorial Scholarship is to recognize college students who go above and beyond in their commitment to serving the community.”

The Steve Williams Memorial Scholarship committee continued raising funds through a silent auction held in October. Generous church and community members are continuing to give to the fund to help college students committed to service achieve their academic dreams. Contributions can be placed in a tithe envelope labeled “SWRGC Community Services.”

By Darriel Hoy
Southwest Region Conference
Community Services Director