LaDarius Price stood in the lunchroom of Woodmore Elementary School on Monday, the picture most perfect of success, optimism and hope for a school that strives each day to instill those traits in some of this city's most economically disadvantaged youth.
Perhaps because he had walked these same halls as a student, had eaten lunch in this same large and inviting room, had learned math and science and English within these walls, his crisply starched dress shirt, navy blue necktie and glistening black dress shoes silently screamed to Woodmore's current classes, "This guy's made a success of his life. Maybe I can, too."
But Price also learned as time passed and he went on to play basketball at Brainerd High School, then later returned there as an assistant coach, that way too many kids at Woodmore and Orchard Knob and Lakeside and all the other lower-income elementary schools in our town were struggling to possess something as seemingly essential as a warm winter coat.
So as he stood before 21 of Woodmore's neediest kids, he was surrounded by 21 large shopping bags, each one bearing a Christmas motif. And inside each of those bags was a new winter coat, one for each student courtesy of Price's "Coats for Kids" project through his charity PEAK (Placing Emphasis Around Kids).
Said Woodmore principal Brenda Cothran of those coats: "Our goal for every student is to support, create and enrich. And we're thankful for all our partnerships that help us achieve that. But a warm coat is everything. It's hard to learn when you're cold."
This is the third year Price has helped fund "Coats for Kids" by staging a charity basketball game at Dalewood Middle School with the help of his close friend and fellow class of 1991 Woodmore alum Nick White, who owns the SPKEZ clothing company.
"The first year we raised enough money to buy 12 coats for Woodmore kids," Price said. "Last year we bought 20. This year we bought 41 total - 21 for here and 20 more for Orchard Knob. Our goal is to double the number of coats every year. Next year we hope to add Lakeside and maybe Clifton Hills. Our ultimate goal is to provide coats for every needy kid in every elementary school in the city."
If you're wondering how many needy kids that could become, Cothran says 95 percent of her students are economically disadvantaged. Orchard Knob principal LaFrederick Thirkill says his school's poverty rate is 98.2 percent.
Said Orchard Knob faculty member Etienne Easley upon Price's arrival at her school later Monday morning: "We see so many kids come off our buses in the winter with no coat. It breaks your heart."
Added Thirkill: "This is so important, what Coats for Kids and all our other partners are doing for these young people. I just wish we could have an angel for each child."
Price says a spiritual moment led him to this work.
"I had a vision from God in 2010," he said. "He told me he wanted me to go into the community I grew up in and make a difference in kids' lives. This isn't just about coats. We conduct free basketball clinics in the summer. We talk about education and staying away from drugs. We do whatever we can to help these kids."
Privacy laws prevented the Woodmore students from being identified for this column. But upon receiving her coat, one fourth-grade girl said, "It's nice to know people care about other people."
Asked how badly she needed a coat, she replied, "On a scale of 1 to 10, at least an 8. Mine was worn out."
We debate daily about the quality of our schools, about the unevenness of public education depending on your zip code, and it's an issue that desperately needs to be addressed and corrected. But under Cothran's leadership, Woodmore's TCAP scores have soared, parental involvement led to a fresh painting of the interior during the summer and an outdoor work day is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 19, to spruce up the grounds.
"This school molded me and shaped me into who I am today," Price told the students. "I grew up right down the street from here on Midland Pike. I really believe that I was placed on this earth to help kids, and I'm blessed that I can give something back."
Just before he and White handed out the coats to those 21 fortunate youngsters, Price asked the group to tell him what it meant to give.
A third-grade boy instantly raised his hand, and Price brought him before his fellow needy students.
Said the boy: "It means that you have something and somebody needs something, so you give it to them."
Replied Price: "That is what life is all about."
At least it would be if every child in need has his or her own angel.
Contact Mark Wiedmer at mwiedmer@timesfreepress.com.