Pass It On: A GALA of Full-Circle Moments
The 2026 Legacy Youth Mentoring Gala was a beautiful reminder that a legacy is never built alone. This year, the evidence of our community’s heart was on full display as we celebrated a historic milestone: Brooks Benton became our first-ever 20-year mentor!
In a moving full-circle moment, Brooks’ very first mentee watched from the audience as Brooks now mentors that mentee’s own son in the same school system. This is what it’s all about.
Celebrating Our Success:
Mentor of the Year: Congratulations to Luis Carreno for his dedicated heart.
The Class of 2026: We honored 13 incredible High School Graduates and awarded four $1,000 college scholarships to help our students soar.
Inspiring Voices: A huge thank you to our Keynote Speakers, Dr. Philip Brown and his former mentee (and now dear friend) Casey Williams, and to our student speakers who reminded us why we show up.
Legacy isn’t what we leave behind... it’s WHO we leave behind. Thank you, Jackson County, for being part of this journey!
Thank you to the Jackson EMC Foundation for including Legacy Youth Mentoring in the video below which highlights our program and many other amazing agencies who serve children, youth and families. Thanks to all our neighbors who are helping neighbors through Operation Round Up participation!