When Ricky McKenzie speaks about his father, you can hear the reverence in his voice—the weight of love, regret, pride, and purpose, all rolled into one. It’s the kind of emotion that doesn’t just come from loss—it comes from realization.

“I didn’t appreciate my father until I was in my thirties.”

— Ricky McKenzie

Ricky is the youngest of eight. His mother passed when he was just 12. His father, Alvin J. McKenzie, raised a large family while navigating life in a new country after immigrating from Jamaica. He was a police officer back home, but when he came to the U.S., he chose a different path. He got his GED. Then an associate degree from STCC. Then a bachelor's degree from Springfield College—becoming the first in his family to ever graduate college.

“He was always about education,” Ricky said. “He just kept telling us that education was the way out.”

And it was. Of the eight siblings, six earned degrees. All became homeowners. But Ricky, now 50, admits something that hits hard: “I didn’t appreciate my father until I was in my thirties.”

And that truth is the heartbeat of everything that’s happening this weekend.

From Love to Action: The Scholarship, the Street, the Sneakers

Ricky didn’t want his father’s memory to fade into silence. So he picked up the phone one day and called Springfield College: “What does it take to start an endowment?” When they told him it would take $25,000, he didn’t blink. “That’s it?” he said. The Alvin J. McKenzie Scholarship Fund was born—and with it, a mission to uplift youth through education, opportunity, and love.

But Ricky didn’t stop there.

He pushed for something permanent, something visible. After two years of tireless work, Marlborough Street—the street his dad lived on for over 30 years—was renamed in Alvin J. McKenzie’s honor.

*Photo Courtesy of:* *alvinjmckenzie.org/*

From Streets to Sneakers

Ricky is always thinking of his next move. Then came the next big idea: give back to Springfield’s youth the way his father gave to him. Not just with school supplies. Not just with backpacks. But with dignity. With love.

“What if we did something for the kids?” he asked himself. “What if we let them feel seen, supported—valued? Gave them something that says, ‘We see you. We believe in you.’”

So Ricky bought hundreds of brand-new sneakers—some out of pocket, many donated—hauled them all the way from Georgia to Springfield, and created an unforgettable Back-to-School Drive.

The Event That’s Bigger Than the Event

This Saturday at Sam Bolden Park, families will gather. Kids will walk away with new backpacks, notebooks, school supplies, food, ice cream, games, basketball fun—and a fresh pair of sneakers.

But that’s not really what they’re walking away with.

They’ll walk away knowing someone cares. That’s the real gift.

Ricky says it best:

“Some of these kids just need to hear: ‘I care.’ That one moment might be the thing that keeps them on the right path this school year. That one handshake might be the one they never forget.”

This event is about restoring hope. About showing kids they matter. About carrying on the legacy of a father who came to a foreign land, educated himself, raised eight children, worked over 30 years at Baystate Medical, and never stopped believing in the power of education and love.

🗓 EVENT DETAILS:

🎉 What: Alvin J. McKenzie Scholarship Fund – 1st Annual Back-to-School Sneaker & Backpack Giveaway
📍 Where: Sam Bolden Park, Wilbraham Avenue, Springfield, Massachusetts
🕚 When: Saturday, August 9, 2025 | 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
🔗 Info: www.AlvinJMcKenzie.org
📲 Follow: @ajmsfund on IG, FB, TikTok, YouTube, X (@ajmsf)

👟 What to Expect:

FREE Sneakers (while supplies last)
FREE Book Bags & School Supplies
FREE Food & Ice Cream
FREE Face Painting
3-on-3 Basketball Tournament
Free Throw & 3-Point Contests
Community Love. Real Love.

Why You Should Be There

This isn’t just a giveaway. This is about legacy. About showing up. About community.

It’s about honoring a man who quietly changed the trajectory of his family—and making sure that same spark lives on in the next generation.

Whether you’re a parent, volunteer, donor, or community member—your presence matters.

Because when people come together to lift up kids with love and dignity, it changes everything.

Don’t just come for the giveaways. Come for the energy. The community. The reminder that when people unite with a shared mission to uplift our children, the results ripple far beyond a single afternoon.

This event is proof that one man’s memory, when honored with heart and hustle, can impact hundreds of lives—and generations to come.

Come see what love looks like in action.

Come be part of something real.

Come help carry Alvin J. McKenzie’s legacy forward.

Spreading the word with Stand Out Truck®

When Ricky saw his father’s name and logo on the Stand Out Truck®, he cried. Not just because it was beautiful—but because it meant the world was finally seeing what he saw: a good man who gave everything he had to his family, his community, and his future.

Now, it’s our turn to give back.

Let’s show up.

Let’s stand out.

Let’s honor the love that built this legacy.

“I Just Want Them to Know Someone Cares.”

Ricky says it best:

“We didn’t have much growing up—but we had a dad who cared. And that made all the difference. Some of these kids might not have that. But at this event, they’ll feel it. Even if it’s just a handshake and a smile—they’ll know someone sees them. Someone believes in them. Someone cares.”
The impact isn’t in the shoes—it’s in the self-worth.
“My father wasn’t famous. He didn’t change laws. He was just a good man who showed up every day and gave all he had. And I just want the world to remember that. That’s what this is about.”

Let’s show up. Let’s carry that legacy forward. Let’s keep making Alvin proud.

Events like this deserve to be seen—and with Stand Out Truck®, they are. Whether you're promoting a cause, uplifting a community, or growing your business, Stand Out Truck® makes sure your message doesn’t just reach people—it resonates. Let us help you make a lasting impression.

Let your next event, brand, or mission stand out.
👉 StandOutTruck.com/contact

Because when you roll with us, the whole city watches.

More Than a Sneaker Give Away: A Son’s Tribute, A Father’s Legacy, A Community Uplifted