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.