Driven by faith, proud father, with a passion for youth, Lexington native Cory Holt set to emcee first Men of Valor program

Holt attended Hargrave Military Academy, before enrolling at Virginia Tech University, where he lettered four years on the football team - winning 3 ACC Championships.{Contributed Photo}

From his high-powered football career to his community service, Lexington Senior High graduate Cory Holt embraces the Johnny Leroy Dawkins Community Solutions’ mission every day. On Sunday, December 10, Holt will serve as emcee at the Men of Valor Fundraising Gala from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Edward C. Smith Civic Center, 217 S Main St in Lexington. Tickets are available at the door or from a participant for $20. 

After graduation from LSHS, Holt attended Hargrave Military Academy, before enrolling at Virginia Tech University, where he lettered four years on the football team - winning 3 ACC Championships. He went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Apparel Housing Resource Management. 

He holds a Master of Business Administration degree, in Human Resources Management, and works for Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, as a director, HR business partner. 

Holt is a proud father of Cailyn and serves as a board member for the Charles and Julia England Foundation, and he’s a former board member of Hospice of Davidson County.

Cory enjoys serving his community, impacting the youth and spending time with his family. The father is passionate about youth and giving back to his community. Throughout his journey, Holt has been moved to address the negative impact on those who did not have positive role models, which drove him to start a nonprofit foundation, dedicated to changing communities and uplifting youth through the Cory Holt Foundation formed in 2019.

Serving as emcee is new to Holt, but he did not hesitate to say “yes” when called by JLD’s Director Andria “Dia” Nyarko.

Holt credits his support system for putting him in a position to help others. “His faith, character and willingness to go above and beyond stem from his beloved parents, Laura and Danny Fuller,” said Nyarko. “We are so grateful Cory has accepted the call to be the host/emcee for our first ‘Men of Valor Christmas Ball’... thank you, Cory!”

“It is an honor to support this family and the foundation. From my foundation and family to theirs, we wish them continued success and much love, as they continue to foster change in our community,” Holt said of the JLD Foundation named in honor of Nyarko’s brother Johnny Leroy Dawkins, Jr. “Anytime you can help young men, especially men of color, who are often stigmatized, you step up to the plate and support the cause. I’ve known this family the majority of my life. Mrs. [Angela] McDuffie and my parents go way back,” Holt offered. “Lee-Lee [Doghouse, as we called him], was a couple years older than me, but we shared several interactions together coming up. He was one of the upperclassmen who looked out for me. We also shared a few classes together in high school. The memory that’ll stick with me most about Lee-Lee, was the moment he started living for Christ and gave his life to God.” 

In 2008, the Dawkins family experienced tragedy when Johnny Leroy "Lee-Lee" Dawkins Jr. was killed as a result of a horrific act of gun violence. Many knew him as a shining and vibrant light who was only 25 years old. The scholarship program was founded in 2010 by mother, Angela McDuffie, and sister, Andria "Dia" Nyarko, in an effort to turn pain into purpose. The goal was to honor Lee-Lee's legacy, invest in the future of black and brown young men and prevent them from being on the giving or receiving end of gun violence. 

This will be JLD’s first Men of Valor fundraiser. Contestants, along with sponsors, were charged with competing to raise the most funds for programming. The group is honoring men of excellence in the Lexington community while raising funds for:

Scholarship program (established since 2010)

Mentorship program (pilot program beginning 2024)

Organization operational expenses

Voting for the 2023 contestants has closed. Participants include: 

Antonio Dawkins

Charles Carter, Jr. (CJ)

Elijah Lockhart McLean

Garrett Holloway

Shymell Pearson

The winner will be announced at the gala. Online donations to support contestants are closed but donations are still being accepted.

All donations are tax deductible. 

Keep in mind, Holt knows most of this cast of brave contestants personally, so expect lots of fun and laughter while raising funds for a worthy cause in Lexington.