By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
In advance of the 2026-2027 school year, the Community Unite Foundation plans to distribute more than 500 backpacks and school supplies to local students during the Dale Cushinberry Community Kickoff on Saturday, Aug. 8, at Eisenhower Middle School.
The Community Unite Foundation, co-founded by local sports icons Kyle Weems and Michael Wilhoite, is teaming up with Topeka Public Schools and Sparkwheel for the event, scheduled for 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Eisenhower.
Kyle Weems and the Community Unite Foundation will hold a backpack/school supplies giveaway on Aug. 8 at Eisenhower Middle School for local students. [File photo/TSN]
Weems, who has co-hosted the highly successful Big Kev Give Back Camp with fellow Highland Park graduate Wilhoite for the past five years, said the backpack giveaway is another perfect way to give back to the community the two Topeka Shawnee County Hall of Famers love.
"We're a little over 500 backpacks, plus supplies,'' Weems said. "I have things being delivered to my mom's house every day, my house every day, so it's been good.''
Weems said that the Aug. 8 event is open to all Topeka students.
"It's open to the community and it's first-come, first-serve,'' Weems said. "Our vision way back when we started the Community Unite Foundation, Mike and I and the rest of the people on our board, one of the things we wanted to do was not just the camp but we wanted to do something educational, and this is right up that alley.
"Obviously, basketball for myself and football for Mike has opened up so many different doors, so many different avenues over the course of our lives and we're forever greatful for that, but we also needed that push when it came to the classroom. We needed the support from guys like coach (Ken) Darting and all of our teachers there at Highland Park and Mr. Dale Cushinberry.''
Weems said that it was a no-brainer to name the backpack giveaway after Cushinberry, a Hall of Fame Athlete and former longtime Highland Park principal.
"With the educational piece we felt it was perfect to be able to give flowers to Cush while he's still here, he's still healthy, he's still present and be able to acknowlege him and show him love,'' Weems said.
Weems said that organizers are hopeful that the backpack giveaway can benefit families that may be in need.
"Being able to do this may kind of take the burden off some of these parents that need a little help financially right now with our economy and the way things are with inflation,'' Weems said. "It really hits home for us and it just goes back to one of my dad's visions and that was being present in our community if we had the chance and we do, so we're just trying to hit it head on.''
