Give People HOPE HOPE

Douglas C. Jackson was a native Oklahoman. Jackson received his bachelors degree in Psychology from Howard University in 1964. He was often described as a gentleman, funny, scholar, and class act. He understood the importance of serving the under served and he spent 30 years teaching science in the Philadelphia Public Schools. Having a father and a grandfather, who both graduated from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s) and worked as educators, he remained a proponent of education and helping others. He understood that education could be transformative to a person’s life. Jackson instilled that belief in his children and others who crossed his path. From teaching in inner city schools, he never forgot that students experience challenges that are often a barrier to pursuing college education. Accordingly, he wrote grants and taught for the Upward Bound program, which provides opportunities for high school students from low-income families, to succeed in their pre-college performance and ultimately in their higher education pursuits. To continue to provide opportunities for students interested in pursuing a college education, the family founded the Douglas J. Stearns Foundation to provide scholarships to students attending HBCUs.