BILAL RUSSELL'S MISSION

"My kids took it very hard, they ask 'why' because they don't understand how such a good person died," said Greta Doss, mother of four foster children.

Doss described Bilal as a caring and compassionate person who took time to visit and counsel her children at home, school, and at basketball games.

Kamal Shaarawy, a supervisor at Black Family and Child Services of Arizona, remembered that although Bilal only worked with the agency for a few short months, he went above and beyond his work as a life-coach playing with the children and getting them involved in different activities.

Bilal taught a young foster girl to play the piano during his home visits. The girl is going to the funeral and will be playing the song I Need Love, an early hit by LL Cool J that Bilal taught her, Shaarawy said.

His family hopes to continue (GIFTS) - "Get Involved For Their Sake", by remodeling their son's home and making it a center for emotionally disturbed children.

“His life was snuffed out by a little bullet; we're not going to let that little bullet stop what Bilal started,” Russell's father said.

Bilal studied psychology and law and was a graduate of Howard University in Washington D.C. He was a college basketball star but was forced out of the game by an injury. Since then Russell poured his focus and passion into helping children and bringing people together, said family members.

Bilal had also just been accepted into law school and was planning to head back East to attend Presidential Inauguration. A candlelight vigil was held Friday Jan. 23rd around 5:30 p.m. at Bilal's home in remembrance of his social work and public service.

The family has also created a funeral fund with Bank of America under the name Bilal A. Russell in order to accept donations.

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