Long Island Native Give Back To Community With College Scholarships

WYANDANCH, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A graduate from one Long Island high school says it's important to give back.

As WCBS 880 Long Island Bureau Chief Mike Xirinachs reported, a 1970 proud graduate of Wyandanch High School, Geoffrey Canada and his wife found a way to do just that.

"And so we decided that we would fund eight scholarships for kids going to college at $3,000 each," he said.

Listen to Long Island Native Give Back To Community With College Scholarships

Canada is nationally recognized for his pioneering work in education reform.

He's also president of the board for Children's Zone in Harlem. Canada said it's important to help, if you can.

"You know as a graduate, I want to say to young people, 'I grew up, I graduated from here. There are people who are rooting for you and supporting you,'" he said.

The eight recipients are all college-bound seniors.