Hi, I’m Gary Rhoades from Kansas City, Missouri, and with my wife Christina Huber Rhoades, we are excited to share something very meaningful to us personally and important for our city’s future.

We have partnered with the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation (KCCF) to create the Rhoades to Justice Scholarship, a new college scholarship designed specifically for students graduating from Kansas City’s public high schools who are determined to pursue higher education and are passionate about civil rights, social justice, and serving their communities.

Why this scholarship matters:

We know firsthand the power of education to open doors, reshape lives, and uplift entire communities. But we also know how expensive college can be and how many talented, motivated young people from public schools face real financial barriers to pursuing degrees — especially in fields like law, education, social work, journalism, and public service where the impact on fairness and justice can be profound. Scholarships can make the difference between a dream deferred and a future realized.

The Rhoades to Justice Scholarship is open to students who have graduated from a Kansas City public high school and have demonstrated strong academic achievement and a commitment to pursuing work that advances civil rights and social justice. The first awards will be given for the Fall 2026 semester, and the application deadline is March 31, 2026.

How your support helps:

Right now, we’re asking for your monetary support on GoFundMe so that we can grow this scholarship in its very first year. Our goal is to fund two students' scholarships instead of one, doubling the opportunity for talented students to receive direct help paying for college. Every dollar you give will go straight into the Rhoades to Justice Scholarship fund held and administered by KCCF — a trusted community foundation with a long history of stewarding scholarship dollars for students in Kansas City.

Help spread the word:

We also need your help in another equally important way. If you know an outstanding student from Kansas City’s public schools — someone who is smart, hardworking, committed to justice, and dreaming of college despite significant obstacles — please tell them about this opportunity. Share this post, send the scholarship link, and encourage students to apply through the Community Foundation’s scholarship portal.

Why we’re doing this:

Christina and I have dug deep and poured our hearts into getting this scholarship off the ground because we believe in the future leaders of our city — especially those who want to use their education to make Kansas City more just, equitable, and thriving for everyone. We’ve invested personally to make this happen, and now, with your help, we can extend that impact even further.

Every share matters. Every donation matters. And every student supported through the Rhoades to Justice Scholarship will carry forward the collective investment of people who believe in opportunity, fairness, and community.

From the bottom of our hearts — thank you.

With gratitude,

Gary Rhoades & Christina Huber Rhoades

P.S. I took the photo of downtown Kansas City, Missouri’s skyline from Kaw Point Park, where the Missouri and Kansas Rivers meet. Christina and I brought my mom there last week at sunset to celebrate the 60th anniversary of her and my dad’s move to Kansas City in 1966, when they came here to start a family and a new life.

Over the years, my family’s journey and my own journey took us away from Kansas City and back again, through highs and lows and many moves and jobs, but KC has always been my true home. This city’s spirit, its people, and its possibilities are part of who we are — and that’s why we’re honored to work with KCCF and you on this venture.