Dawn Collins
Co-Founder and President, 2LT Richard W. Collins III Foundation
2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
Since 2017, when her son, 2nd Lt. Richard Collins III, was violently murdered in an unprovoked attack on the University of Maryland, College Park campus, Mrs. Dawn Collins has been a leader in the fight against hate crimes.
Mrs. Collins and her husband, Richard Collins Jr., established The 2Lt Richard W. Collins III Foundation (the Foundation) to honor their son. The Foundation goals are twofold: 1) to provide ROTC scholarships to students attending historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the State of Maryland along with the executive development programs and resources required for their long-term success 2) work within the education system to deploy programs – at every level – that develop mutual understanding, encourage respectful dialogue, and root out the scourge of hate.
The effort to eradicate hate requires the active participation of every component of our society, to include governments, the private sector, communities of faith and indeed every aspect of civil society. There is no more urgent task in front of us. The organizers of the Eradicate Hate Global Summit are doing the United States and the world an enormous service by tackling hatred and extremism with a focus on honest dialogue and conversation, genuine learning and practical solutions. This will not happen overnight, but the Pittsburgh community’s leadership in this effort is genuinely inspiring and motivating.
