Edgar G. Richards was born January 25, 1962, in Kingston, Jamaica, to Estelle Richards and Edgar Richards, Sr. When he was five years old, after the death of his father, his mother moved Edgar and his brother to Hartford, Connecticut. It was through the vision of his middle school gym teacher, Ms. Cherrelle Jiggits, that Edgar’s passion for the arts was ignited. She encouraged him to train professionally and introduced him to The Hartford Ballet.
Juggling three jobs and one goal, Edgar saved money and moved to New York City after a few years to become an apprentice at The Dance Theatre of Harlem. During this rigorous training period, he continued his academic studies at The Professional Children’s School. Edgar’s exceptional talent won him a scholarship to The School of the American Ballet under the artistic guidance of George Balanchine. His drive for perfection led to further training at the Pacific Northwest Ballet School. With a sparkle in his eye, Edgar performed as a soloist with the State Ballet of Missouri, now known as the Kansas City Ballet.
After several seasons with the Kansas City Ballet, he decided to pursue a bachelor’s degree at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. While at Morehouse, Edgar continued to use his remarkable skill in dance to enliven the arts community as an instructor and choreographer to aspiring dancers. Edgar loved Morehouse and continued to make cameo appearances in productions on campus as well as the greater Atlanta community. After graduating with a degree in English, Edgar moved to Washington, DC, and studied at Howard University School of Law.
Armed with a concern for human harmony, Edgar took on the responsibility of making positive changes in people and communities. His experience in law school prompted him to return to his hometown of Hartford, where he could actively contribute to political missions, working alongside the mayor and the state treasurer. He was refreshing to the community, adding hope and broadening paths for future leaders and dreamers. He had been the eldest of his siblings, and the role of big brother was not exclusive to his family. Edgar was equally genuine to everyone he could possibly mentor. His inspiration made everyone feel like the most important person in the world.
Knowing that the flame of true passion never dies, Edgar and the arts went center stage once again. He decided to return to his beloved city, New York, and explore his ideas in arts management. He worked at Columbia Arts Management (CAMI), managing the tours of the world’s finest operas, orchestras, and dance companies.
Edgar loved life and lived every day to its fullest. He traveled the world, going past the boundaries of tourism into remote villages and exclusive destinations. He routinely took not one vacation … not two or three … but most often four vacations a year—traveling widely and frequently to Brazil, the South of France, the Caribbean, and the Greek Isles, and he spent many summers on Martha’s Vineyard.
He also fell in love with The Riverside Church and was a leader in the Maranatha ministry, bringing the concerns of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community to The Riverside Church in the form of education and action, while providing fellowship and spiritual community.
Edgar died on October 15, 2005, in Orlando, Florida. He was survived by his partner, Antonio Stevens.
How to Apply:
The Edgar G. Richards Scholar Award is presented by Maranatha, one of the Ministries of Mission and Social Justice at the Riverside Church, which is committed to serving God by fostering greater understanding while promoting equity for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Same-Gender Loving, and Allies.
The completed application must be submitted though the electronic online process. No paper application will be accepted. All required attachments must be submitted at the same time your application is submitted.
The deadline for filing is May 26, 2025. Only complete applications can be considered. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. Your application will be reviewed by members of the Maranatha Scholarship Committee. Selection will be based on the Eligibility Criteria listed below.
Eligibility Criteria:
• All applicants must be attending an accredited college, vocational college, or university as a fulltime student, or be planning to attend in the Fall of 2025. The student may be commencing studies or may already be attending, and may be working toward a vocational school Certificate of Completion, Associate, Baccalaureate, or Master's degree.
• Be in good academic standing in a current academic program, or in the academic or vocational program most recently completed.
• Be self-identified as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and / or Transgender.
• Have been active in one or more LGBTQIA organizations, in roles that demonstrate leadership and service.
• If you are selected, you must attend the Riverside Church Pride Sunday Breakfast Celebration on Sunday, June 29, 2025. The scholarship will be presented at this event.
• Remember! Keep a copy of your application for your records.
Questions may be directed to The Riverside Church Missions and Social Justice Office at msj@trcnyc.org