The Black Diamonds Academic Success Program will host its 2025 Black History Month Celebration & Tribute to The Charitable Six of Peekskill on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Peekskill Youth Bureau at 828 Main Street.
During a tumultuous time in Peekskill and our nation’s history — when our country was deeply involved in the Vietnam War, the civil rights movement was at its height, and urban renewal was in Peekskill’s front window — six Black men from Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church and Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, who were fathers and war veterans, formed a group to give back and lift up their community.
In 1963, Coleman Smith Jr, Odell Jackson, David Whitfield Jr., Benjamin Hull, J. L. Hull, and Leroy Hankin formed The Charitable Six. For more than a decade, those men made a lasting impact on the Peekskill community through their generosity, leadership, and commitment to helping others.
From its founding, the group would host various events, including formal dances at the New York Armory on Washington Street, and at Colonial Terrace, where the proceeds were donated as scholarships to college students. The group also used the funds to give back to other community organizations that helped make a difference.
To honor The Charitable Six and their lasting impact on the Peekskill community, the Black Diamonds Academic Success Academy invited Renee Leisngang — daughter of Coleman Smith Jr. — to speak about the legacy of The Charitable Six. The celebration will highlight their contributions, while also showcasing the rich legacy of Black history, resilience, and excellence.
“We are excited to bring the community together to celebrate Black history and recognize those who continue to make a difference,” said Martin McDonald, Founder and Director of the Black Diamonds Academic Success Program. “The Charitable Six exemplifies the spirit of service and commitment that we strive to instill in our young men through the Black Diamonds program.”
The 2025 Black History Month Celebration will feature student presentations and a tribute to the honorees. The Black Diamonds welcomes the entire community to join them at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, at the Peekskill Youth Bureau in honoring and paying tribute to The Charitable Six.
About Black Diamonds Academic Success Program
The Black Diamonds Academic Success Program is an organization committed to empowering and supporting the educational and personal growth of Black and Brown male students, helping them excel academically, ensuring they graduate on time, and are well-prepared for life beyond high school. Through mentorship, enrichment activities, leadership development, and cultural awareness, the program fosters integrity, responsibility, identity, purpose, accountability, and community engagement.
For more information on the Black Diamonds Success Academy, visit their website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
Don’t forget to tell everyone at 2025 Black History Month Celebration & Tribute to the “Charitable 6” that you read about it in the Peekskill Herald.
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