The Kenneth Lockett Foundation’s mission is to honor the life and legacy of Kenneth Henry Lockett III by preparing the next generation of Georgia’s civic leaders. Through programs that center law, journalism, and public service, we support students in gaining the experiences, mentorship, and resources they require to lead with impact.

The Foundation was established on September 7, 2024, by Daniel Varitek and William Holley, IV, two college friends of Kenneth’s.

The Foundation’s flagship program is the K.H. Lockett Truth and Justice Fellowship, a highly selective undergraduate fellowship designed to give students impactful, real-world opportunities in Georgia’s leading civic institutions. Over time, we aim to expand into additional fellowships, residencies, and civic projects that help young people build careers of purpose and service.

Today’s challenges are deeply complex. Climate change, artificial intelligence, trust in democracy, and economic mobility are only a few. Tomorrow’s challenges will be greater still.

Meeting them will demand leaders who act not out of ambition alone, but out of responsibility to the body politic — leaders who are visionary, ethical, and oriented toward good societal outcomes.

Our vision is to prepare tomorrow’s leaders with both the skills to navigate complexity and the character to lead through it. At the same time, we believe the path to civic leadership must remain accessible. That’s why our programs are designed to widen opportunity so that talent and purpose, not privilege, determine who steps into Georgia’s leadership.

We pay special attention to the needs of the Deep South, and Georgia specifically, as we work to build a pool of principled talent for our state’s most critical civic institutions.