WS Chronicle

The Big 4 High School Alumni Association will celebrate its 2018 accomplishments and successes at a festive Holiday Celebration on  Saturday, Dec. 15, 8 p.m., at the Enterprise Center to welcome the holiday season with former classmates, family, friends and supporters. 

The Big 4 has a lot to celebrate since the year 2019 will be the 25th anniversary of their unique partnership and collaboration. The Big 4 is the only organization of its kind in which four historically black high schools formed a nonprofit to keep the spirit of the four schools alive, and to preserve the rich legacy, provide community service, and honor their former educators. Big 4 events are special occasions that bring the community together and continually reunite graduates of the four schools. The impact the four schools had on African-American students during segregation is immeasurable.

To ensure the longevity and sustainability of the Big 4 Alumni Association, the “Heirs of the Big 4,” who are descendants of Big 4 school graduates, was established. Anyone whose parents, grandparents or great-grandparents attended a Big 4 school is automatically an “Heir of the Big 4.” The goal of the “Heirs of the Big 4” is to continue to preserve the legacy and the mission of service for years to come.

The major Big 4 2018 community service projects included a partnership with the WSPD to provide approximately 100 Teddy Bears for children of families of domestic violence, and clothes donations for Urban League job seekers to attend interviews. In addition to these projects, alumni activities included tutoring, mentoring, and holiday food and gift drives for needy families.

A major accomplishment was the establishment of the Big 4 Alumni Association office as a physical location to conduct the association’s business, hold meetings and archive association historical documents and records. The Teachers Appreciation Luncheon, attended by 32 retired educators, was a highlight of the year. This event was an opportunity to thank the teachers for their commitment to academic excellence and values they instilled in their students. Malishai Woodbury, graduate of Carver High School, educator and WS/FC School Board member, delivered the address at the Teachers Appreciation Luncheon. She demonstrates the quality of students the Big 4 Schools produced.

As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, the Big 4 Alumni Association relies upon donations from members and friends and fundraising activities. The community is warmly invited to support the Big 4 and come out to this festive event. You are guaranteed to enjoy an evening of fellowship, reminiscing, dancing to old and new DJ sounds, and scrumptious heavy hors d’oeuvres, all in the holiday spirit. The Big 4 Holiday Celebration committee members are James McCants, Anderson; Jamie Transou, Carver; Andrew Lindsay, Atkins; and Delores McGregor, Paisley. Contact the Big 4 office for information and tickets at 1922 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

Tickets are $20 and are available by calling the office at (336) 464-3137, Eric Martin at (336) 624-4410, or James McCants at (336) 782-2645.