rwhittingtonfoundation

Murphy Elementary students gifted shopping spree

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 07:52:33 GMT

HIGH RIDGE, Mo. – Behind the gym doors at Murphy Elementary sat rows of toys, bikes and TVs for students to pick from, all with help from the R Whittington foundation in partnership with Asbury Plaza Motor Company and the Steward family foundation.

Thursday afternoon, all 450 students at Murphy Elementary were invited to take part in a shopping spree, each child choosing a gift of their own.

For Rickey Whittington, with the foundation, the moment was deeply personal.

“I would’ve thought it was a dream come true,” he said. “I was a kid who grew up without. My grandmother just could not afford to get anything for Christmas. To walk into a room like this and pick a toy — it would give me hope that someone would come back and do the same.”

That hope was evident on every face, as students hurried from table to table, unsure where to look first.

Third-grader Adrian was one of them.

“I was super excited, because I didn’t know this was happening,” Adrian said.

After outgrowing her previous bike, Adrian selected a brand-new one from the shop—a gift she says means more than just fun.

“It means a lot to me because it’s very nice for people to do this for us,” she said. “Like if we can’t afford these things.”

Many students understood exactly why the day mattered. Fifth-grader Lexi, who chose a hoverboard, said the generosity hit close to home.

“Most people who came here today that I know can’t afford stuff,” Lexi said. “But they got the stuff they can’t afford now.”

As Santa prepares for his big night, for some of these children, Christmas arrived early—thanks to Whittington, school staff, teachers and parent volunteers who helped make the event possible.

“God bless all of them,” Lexi added. “They gave us all this stuff, and we are very grateful.”

According to their website, The R. Whittington Foundation is a resource for the region from St. Louis to Chicago.

This charity organization is dedicated to philanthropy and positively impacting the lives of those who are underserved, overlooked and disenfranchised.

For more information on their non-profit organization and the individuals they serve, please visit their website here .

Foundation teams with Lindenwood, Nelly to send students to college

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 07:08:03 GMT

ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI) – A local foundation is teaming up with the hip hop artist and local university to help some students dreams come true. The partnership is with Grammy Award Winning Hip- Hop artist Nelly, Lindenwood University and the R. Whittington Foundation. It’s a way to pay it forward in a big way.

Rickey Whittington is a well-known executive at Plaza Motors Dealership in Creve Coeur, Missouri. Whittington has sold luxury cars to the rich and famous, but what many people may not know is that Whittington has been giving back to the community for more than a decade.

“I always told myself if I was able or ever got into a position to do better, I would come back and give back and make a difference. I kept my promise,” Whittington said.

Whittington has been living up to his promise each and every day through the R. Whittington Foundation. He launched his first toy drive 15 years ago and has since donated thousands of toys and clothing to area churches, families and organizations.

Rickey is also one of the co-founders of the annual Nelly Black and White Ball. It began as a partnership between the Grammy Award-winning artist, Lindenwood University, and the R. Whittington Foundation. The partnership has one goal in mind: provide scholarships to well-deserving students.

Taylor Harris is one of 21 scholarship recipients and the first child in her family of six kids to go to college.

“I am completely grateful and I thank Mr. Whittington for what he has done for me and my family,” Harris said.

It’s a full-ride scholarship, which includes full tuition for five years, room and board, as well as an iPad and iPod.

The R. Whittington Foundation is now gearing up to partner with Grammy Award-winning artist Ron Isley, and the President of Harris Stowe State University Dr. Duwan Warmack, to provide the same opportunities to students at to Harris Stowe. The scholarships at Harris Stowe State University is expected to be awarded next year.

Jordan Ross & R. Whittington Foundation

Tue, 04 Jul 2023 12:04:12 GMT

My name is Jordan Ross, a senior accounting major at Harris-Stowe State University from Compton, CA but St. Louis raised. I met Dr. Whittington 3 years ago when I transferred from Morehouse College and he bestowed me with my first scholarship; he’s been my mentor ever since. Priceless life lessons, spiritual growth, and wisdom has been the core of our relationship. Normally, Dr. Whittington speaks from the heart when makes his posts on Facebook but he’d rather I do it this time as I reflect on our past Food Drive in collaboration with Walmart Corporation. On Tuesday, June 27, 2023, the R. Whittington Foundation (with the sponsorship of Walmart Corporation) fed over 1,400 families in East St. Louis. After the drive was over, Dr. Whittington and I had a deep conversation the following morning about impact and the current state of our community which led to us to asking a few questions;

When is the last time you showed someone you care? Not just using words but taking action to give that person their flowers?
What happened to love thy neighbor? We used to have the mindset of “if I got it then you got it” but lately there’s been a lot of focus on self.
How do we get to the point where we can love each other in this melting pot of America? What must we do in order to save our community?
WE can be the change we want to see but it starts with us. It starts with you. You don't have to give money but does it hurt you to hold the door for someone else? Does it hurt you to help someone put their groceries in their car? Does it hurt you to tell someone good morning with a smile on your face? These few examples don’t require anything but effort and love.

What we do is a job that doesn’t come with shining lights nor a round of applause. We have long days and even longer nights that can cause financial, mental, and physical strain to ensure the wellbeing of other people but its always worth it. Every time. The payment for our work comes from God and the inner peace we have of knowing that God and our community knows we’re trying. Trying to ensure the education of our communities, trying to make sure our families can eat tonight. Trying to change the mindset and paradigm of a young man who’s been a victim of the system but doesn’t know any other way. But not only are we trying, but we’re doing. Making sure a young man or young lady knows that blood doesn’t have to be the only people who can love you, making sure people see positive and practical representation of us other than what they show in the media.

Each one, teach one, it takes a village to raise one and to those who are going into their communities and teaching these young men and women priceless lessons, I thank you. To the mothers who are doing their best with what they have, I thank you. To the fathers that fight through tribulations but still provide I thank you. To the grandparents that’s fulfilling the role of parents to their grandchildren I thank you. I thank everyone who is taking the time to contribute and pour into our young people.

Remember, LOVE WINS.

"Faith without work is dead."

- Jordan Ross & The R. Whittington Foundation

Partnership With Tom James Custom Clothing Company

Fri, 12 May 2023 09:55:09 GMT

In addition to our partnership with Midland States Bank, we’ve also partnered with Tom James Custom Clothing Company to provide over 500 suits to our youth. The R. Whittington Foundation will distribute the business attire to our local universities in hopes of providing them with the tools necessary to dress for success. Our goal is to not only have our youth present well, but to also FEEL well. The power from confidence is like non-other and if we’re able to boost the self esteem of those who need it then that’s exactly what we’ll do. We’d like to give a huge thanks to Ben Lawler & Jordan Trautmann for all of their help and we’d like to give an even bigger thanks to all of the donors who helped to make this possible. Without your help we can’t do what we do, and for that we thank you.